If you grew up in the '80s, you knew people who talked like this.
You maybe even talked like this yourself. The problem is, the people in this movie talking like this don't sound authentic. The dialogue is right, but the people delivering it don't have the slightest feel for the rhythms and intonations of the Valley Girl.
Listen to the Frank and Moon Zappa song that took the subculture nationwide and you'll see what I mean. The song is dead-on; the movie is a pale, outsider imitation. But, what do you expect?
The only redeeming feature is Nic Cage's fantastically smoldering performance as Randy. The filmmakers couldn't seem to decide if his character was punk, rockabilly, or just working-class (something else that makes the film feel like an outsider's attempt to exploit a craze without really understanding it), but when Cage is onscreen, it all ceases to matter. One of his great quirky, weirdo, but very attractive performances, on a par with Raising Arizona and Peggy Sue Got Married.
Between Cage and a great soundtrack (Modern English! Josie Cotton!), it earns 5/10.
You maybe even talked like this yourself. The problem is, the people in this movie talking like this don't sound authentic. The dialogue is right, but the people delivering it don't have the slightest feel for the rhythms and intonations of the Valley Girl.
Listen to the Frank and Moon Zappa song that took the subculture nationwide and you'll see what I mean. The song is dead-on; the movie is a pale, outsider imitation. But, what do you expect?
The only redeeming feature is Nic Cage's fantastically smoldering performance as Randy. The filmmakers couldn't seem to decide if his character was punk, rockabilly, or just working-class (something else that makes the film feel like an outsider's attempt to exploit a craze without really understanding it), but when Cage is onscreen, it all ceases to matter. One of his great quirky, weirdo, but very attractive performances, on a par with Raising Arizona and Peggy Sue Got Married.
Between Cage and a great soundtrack (Modern English! Josie Cotton!), it earns 5/10.