Josie and the Pussycats (2001)

A girl group find themselves in the middle of a conspiracy to deliver subliminal messages through popular music in this send up of the music industry and pop culture.

Directors:

Harry Elfont, Deborah Kaplan

Writers:

Deborah Kaplan, Harry Elfont,

Stars:

Rachael Leigh Cook, Rosario Dawson, Tara Reid

5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rachael Leigh Cook	...	Josie McCoy
Rosario Dawson	...	Valerie Brown
Tara Reid	...	Melody Valentine
Gabriel Mann	...	Alan M.
Paulo Costanzo	...	Alexander Cabot
Missi Pyle	...	Alexandra Cabot
Alan Cumming	...	Wyatt Frame
Parker Posey	...	Fiona
Tom Butler	...	Agent Kelly
Carson Daly	...	Himself
Aries Spears	...	The Other Carson Daly
Alexander Martin	...	Les (as Alex Martin)
Faedragh Carpenter	...	Teenage Fan
Justin Chatwin	...	Teenage Fan
Marites Pineda	...	Teenage Fan

Storyline

For years, the record industries have inserted subliminal messages into music so that they can turn teenagers into braindead zombies who do nothing but buy, buy, buy. And whenever the musician or band finds out the truth, the record company silences them to keep the truth from coming out. When the hot boy band DuJour discovers this, their manager, Wyatt Frame, under his evil, corrupt boss, Fiona, has the plane they are flying in crashed and him looking for a new band to use for their evil schemes. Enter Josie, the ditzy Melody, and the tough Valerie, from Josie and the Pussycats, a small band who wants to make it to the big top. When they are discovered by Wyatt, they give in and become big rock stars. But will they find out that they are just pawns for the record industry or will fame take them over?

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Plot Keywords:

band | subliminal message | boss | pop culture | music industry | 

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Taglines:

They were three small time girls, with big time dreams. Now, fate is giving the Pussycats, the chance of a lifetime.

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Genres:

Comedy | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language and sensuality

Details

Official Sites:

Universal

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 April 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Josie et les Pussycats

Filming Locations:

41st Avenue at Yew Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$22,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£37,662 (UK) (24 August 2001)

Gross:

£37,662 (UK) (24 August 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Riverdale Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tara Reid starred as the band's drummer, Melody Valentine. Not knowing how to play drums before they filmed, she needed to learn the basics so she could appear to know what she was doing behind the kit. The producers hired Drew Thomas. He was in such bands as Bold, Into Another, and Youth of Today. Drew went on to play in the band God Fires Man along with members of Errortype:11 and Garrison.

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Goofs

During the Behind The Music show Valerie is watching about The Captain and Tennille and The Chief, The Chief says that he was mostly responsible for "Love Will Keep Us Together". However, Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield wrote the song in 1973. The Captain and Tennille's version was simply a cover recorded in 1975.

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Quotes

Melody: The walls are mushy!

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Crazy Credits

The original Josie and the Pussycats cartoon theme song plays during the end credits.

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Connections

Featured in The Blockbuster Buster: Josie & the Pussycats (2012)

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Soundtracks

"3 Small Words"
Written by Deborah Kaplan, Harry Elfont, Dave Gibbs (as David Gibbs)
Produced by Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds (as Babyface) for ECAF Productions, Inc.
Co-Produced by Dave Gibbs (as David Gibbs)
Performed by Josie and the Pussycats

User Reviews

Guilty Pleasure

Do not go to this movie expecting anything that's logical or realistic. It is a purely fun film with a rocking soundtrack.

Viewers who would most appreciate this would be the ones who have at least a vague memory of the television cartoon series because there are a lot of jokes and references that might go over one's head otherwise--not to say that kids wouldn't enjoy it as well, because they will.

There's a lot going on in this film. So much happens so fast, but that is intentional. It is highly visual, and the style almost seems like a cross between Steven Soderbergh and Tim Burton, of course with a lot more pink and glitter. The images literally pop out at you at times. And while the plot is somewhat contrived, you might not mind too much because it speaks so clearly to our current culture.

The parody of Boy Bands and Pop-Star Girls is dead-on and that's why this is such a guilty pleasure. You can appreciate how they are made fun of and enjoy the characterizations at the same time. And all the performances are first rate--from the cameo performances by Breckin Myer and Seth Green as members of the Boy Band "Dujour", to leads Rachel Leigh Cook and Tara Reid as Josie and Melody, to the supporting players, particularly Alan Cumming and Parker Posey as the record executives. Also look for cameos by Carson Daly and Ken "Babyface" Edmonds.

Rosario Dawson as Valerie makes quite an impression. Her strong but anxious portrayal helps set up the classic conflict of female friendship vs. "diva-like" fame--a conflict we've seen played out over and over again in many VH-1 "Behind the Music" episodes.

All in all, this is a film you'll enjoy upon first viewing and maybe even more with repeated viewings. If anything, you'll be dancing out of the aisles as you head home.