Licorice Pizza review

LICORICE PIZZA: 

A HILARIOUS AND HEARTFELT COMING-OF-AGE TALE AND A SURPRISINGLY REFRESHING DEPARTURE FROM TYPICAL PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON FARE! 

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** ½ out of 4

MGM AND FOCUS FEATURES

Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman in Licorice Pizza

 

            Director, Paul Thomas Anderson (Punch-Drunk Love, There Will Be Blood, Phantom Thread) goes back in time to the 1970s in Licorice Pizza, the new coming-of-age comedy-drama that follows in the footsteps of such classics as Fast Times at Ridgemont High and American Graffiti. The film was inspired by Anderson walking past a middle school in 2001 as he observed a male student nagging a female photographer and is loosely based on the life stories of film producer and actor, Gary Goetzman.

            I’ve been a huge fan of Anderson’s work and this film certainly looked interesting to say the least. Whenever I think of Paul Thomas Anderson, I usually think strange and odd with a darkly comical edge, much like Inherent Vice or Phantom Thread, this film doesn’t have any of that and instead focuses on the awkwardness of first love and the innocence and struggles of adolescence. 

            Upon seeing the film, I can gladly say that Licorice Pizza is one of the most pleasant surprises I’ve had all year. The trailer made it look good and obviously with Anderson’s name attached to it I was going to see it even if it’s so drastically different from all his other films, but all throughout the movie I was getting wrapped up in the story and characters, laughing at its witty and tightly written dialogue, and kicking it with the soundtrack. 

            The film is set in the early 1970s and follows a teenage boy named Gary Valentine (Newcomer, Cooper Hoffman) working as a child actor who bumps into 25-year-old photographer’s assistant, Alana Kane (Alana Haim-Documentary Now!, The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience) and the two of them form an unexpected bond. Gary aspires to be successful as an actor or businessman and cause all kinds of trouble with his friends while Alana is on the fence of doing carefree things but also grow up into adulthood. 

            The rest of the film consists of all the wacky hijinks, adventures, and trouble these two get into while also learning important life lessons along the way. Through activities such as driving around and smoking pot, witnessing actor, Jack Holden (Sean Penn-I Am Sam, Mystic River, Milk, based on real-life actor, William Holden) jumping fire with a motorcycle on a golf course, and encountering a crazy and exaggerated depiction of real-life film producer, Jon Peters (Bradley Cooper-The Hangover trilogy, Marvel Cinematic Universe, A Star is Born (2018)), Gary and Alana form an unbreakable friendship…and possible romance. 

            The film also stars Tom Waits as Rex Blau, Benny Safdie (Good Time, Uncut Gems) as politician, Joel Wachs, Skyler Gisondo (Santa Clarita Diet, The Amazing Spider-Man 1 and 2, Vacation) as Lance, Mary Elizabeth Ellis (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Perfect Couples, New Girl) as Momma Anita, John Michael Higgins (The Late Shift, The Legend of Korra, Big Hero 6: The Series) as Jerry Frick, Christine Ebersole (Amadeus, True Crime, The Wolf of Wall Street) as Lucy Doolittle, Harriet Sansom Harris (Addams Family Values, Memento, Phantom Thread) as Mary Grady, George DiCaprio as Mr. Jack, Ray Chase (Final Fantasy XV, Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia: Two Heroes) as B. Michael Reed, Maya Rudolph (50 First Dates, Bridesmaids, The Mitchells VS the Machines) as Gale, and John C. Reilly (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Step Brothers, Wreck-It Ralph) as Herman Munster actor, Fred Gwynne. 

            Overall, Licorice Pizza adds another well-crafted film to Paul Thomas Anderson’s filmography and a bold, funny, and heartfelt coming-of-age story with potentially star-making performances by its talented young cast, beautiful cinematography and production design that make the 1970s come alive in every shot, and a sense of nostalgia. Anyone who has fond memories of their teenage years can easily relate to something in this film whether it’s trying to ask someone you like on a date, doing stupid things with your buddies, or just simply by enjoying life, it’s the kind of film that makes you look back on your younger years and be like “Oh, I remember doing this at that age”. 

            Teenage nostalgia aside where the film truly shines is with its characters, you really grow attached to what is going on in Alana and Gary’s lives and the film sheds light on the problems that occur in their friendship and possible romance. At times, the film feels like you’re coming along with them on their little adventures through town and seeing them get into all kinds of shenanigans is quite delightful. 

            It really helps that the acting is top-notch especially from Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman, both are relative newcomers, but this film showcases exactly what kind of star-making power they have and their abilities to carry the entire movie on their shoulders. Alana and Cooper are very likable and basically polar opposites of one another, a happy-go-lucky and playful child star who’s too cool for school and enjoys causing mischief with his friends and a photographer’s assistant who’s in this middle section between doing dumb things with friends and growing up and making a difference in the world, not once did I feel like I was watching two actors whenever they were on-screen, I felt like I was watching two people trying to make their friendship/romance work and with every outburst or sarcastic comment, they always figure out a way to help the other out in the long run. 

            Also, Bradley Cooper as this completely psychotic version of Jon Peters is something that must be seen to be believed especially after hearing the story Kevin Smith told about how difficult he was to work with on the unfinished Superman Lives movie, this is like a very cathartic and hilarious act of revenge on a pretty slimy Hollywood producer. To the point where it makes me want to see a Jon Peters biopic starring Cooper and another movie where Harvey Weinstein gets the same treatment.  

            The production design and cinematography for this movie is excellent, from the architecture of the buildings, cars, music, hairstyles, and costume design to simply how the movie is shot. I don’t know if there was some sort of camera filter or if Paul Thomas Anderson filmed it on an older camera, but visually this movie looks like it came right out of the 1970s that was delayed several decades. 

            I don’t know what else to say, Licorice Pizza has everything that makes a great film and can easily be considered the next American Graffiti or Fast Times. With its bold storytelling, compelling characters, phenomenal acting, and witty script, this is one Licorice Pizza you will definitely want a slice of.