Josie and the Pussycats (2001) User Reviews

Gets better with time

[tea-16 · 7/10 · 15 April 2008]

First of all - this is not a meaningful movie. But it wasn't meant to be. I hate it when I hear critics slam a movie mainly because it doesn't fit into their favorite "Type" of movie. Some movies are made to sit through wincing - leaving you sore emotionally and some are light silly goofball creations that wont change the world, but sure are nice to just zone out with.

This movie will never turn Roger Ebert's crank...its silly and goofy and irrelevant....Its also over time revealing itself to have been at the time...subversive. This movie has a lot of little things about it that are becoming more relevant as the years wear on...

When this first came out I thought "An alright movie with catchy songs" This was before I myself got involved in the Music industry. After living through three bands and two contracts over ten years I would like to say this movie isn't as unrealistic as you may think. It is still a spoof, but close enough to reality to warrant another look. Originally waved away as being pure fluff I now find this movie creepily prophetic.

Since this movie was made we have witnessed the fall out of bands like Back street boys the breakdown of pop-stars like Brittany Spears and a slew of young actors & actresses separated from family & friends whose entire personalities have been written and designed by stylists and are seen battling like some weird "Fashionista" roman gladiators under the tutelage of sycophants and managers.

Media/pop culture, with its out of control emphasis on looks and weight over talent and personality, have resulted in actual government legislation regarding model weights and rampant anorexia amongst young starlets.

Musically there has been a huge increase in management interference (listen to Pink's first album regarding the pressures placed on a young singer to conform to a label's Vision) dictating how the artists shall look and act. If it hadn't been for the internet download revolution of Lime wire and such I think the Music industry would have happily continued to control what consumers were ALLOWED to buy and ALLOWED to see...

This movie was also made prior to the outing of "gay" boy band members Stephen Gately, Lance Bassit, Jordan Knight but the top selling song for the Boy Band "Du Jour" in this movie is the most homo-suggestive song I've ever heard. (Is it really called "In Through Your Back Door"?)

After all this fallout, the world of Josie & the Pussycats seems much less stupid to me.

Again...Not deep, but possibly prophetic...and fun to watch Just don't expect to feel moved. Its popcorn at its best - light and salty, not really a meal...its a snack and as that type of movie...shouldn't't be judged solely for its nutritional value... I'd rate it a 7

Amusing satire on the power & brainwashing of the music industry

[Wuchakk · 7/10 · 14 August 2011]

I never saw the original cartoon but decided to pick up 2001's "Josey and the Pussycats" because Tara Reid's such a cutie and it looked like some fun entertainment.

Yes, it's fun and the girls are attractive (also featuring Rachael Leigh Cook & Rosario Dawson) but, surprisingly, "Josey and the Pussycats" shoots for something deeper. As my title blurb points out, this is an amusing and potent satire on the power and manipulation of the entertainment industry.

Alan Cumming is outstanding as the villainous band manager who uses, abuses and throws away at whim. His opening scene with the fictional boyband Du Jour is worth the price of admission! Parker Posey is also good as his diabolical superior.

Ever wonder why all those musicians die in mysterious plane crashes, overdoses, etc. at the height of their fame? How about all those successful government cover-ups? How do artists with little actual talent and songwriting abilities become hugely popular while the truly talented artists languish in obscurity (like Meliah Rage)? Why do you sometimes have this insane drive for a Big Mac or Coke? "Josie and the Pussycats" explains all, lol.

As for the doofuses who complain about the product placement, they all live on Aduh Street.

The film runs 98 minutes.

GRADE: B

good movie

[geez_isaythatalot · 6/10 · 3 July 2005]

Pretty decent feel-good movie. Superb soundtrack, talented cast. Not a disappointment at all. Lots of energy in the young cast, humorous laid- back script, and good message.

Humorous at certain points and worth watching if your a teenage girl, or especially if you like all the conspiracy theory stuff =)

Is meaningful in that it puts emphasis on importance of certain things in our lives, leaves you wanting to download the track and has a light hearted attempt at portraying messages to young people without the boring political side.

Josie and the Pussycats is lively and funny at points. I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes movie's like Mean girls, Legally Blonde etc as it is humorous and meaningful, without being overly politically correct.

Guilty Pleasure

[mazdp · 12 April 2001]

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.

Love the stars

[gbill-74877 · 6/10 · 2 January 2024]

A pretty generic film adaptation of the comic book, but with several standouts in the cast and a few nice moments. I loved Rachael Leigh Cook, Rosario Dawson, and Parkey Posey in this, each of them with such strong screen presence. Tara Reid is saddled playing a stereotypical ditzy blonde character, so was harder to like, even if the scene with then boyfriend Carson Reid was amusing. There are several other tropes afoot, like the guy who finally realizes he's been in love with his friend all along. The messaging in the film relates to consumerism, conformity, and the evils of the recording industry, but its undercut by its bland script, which isn't as clever as it thinks it is. We see a barrage of product placement throughout the movie, ostensibly a part of the meaning of the film, but it could have avoided becoming a parody of itself by making all of those fictional products. The "subliminal messages in rock music" plotting also strangely echoes conservative fears from days gone by. There was potential here, but it all ultimately felt as packaged as what it was satirizing. Loved the blooper reel at the end though - all films should include these.

Josie and the girls, well, they rock!

[inkblot11 · 7/10 · 13 June 2006]

Josie (Rachael Leigh Cook) is the lead singer and guitarist for the all girls rock band, as depicted in the Archie comics. They are mocked by fellow students, despite being quite talented. No has discovered them, its true, but things can change. A deceptive and evil record producer needs new blood and orders an underling to find some fresh faces. Naturally, Josie's group practically falls into his lap. They are signed and touted everywhere. But, is this the real thing or is the mother of all exploitation plots being hatched? Will Josie and the girls stay sweet and unjaded by their fame? What a fine and fun film this is! Girls will love it, yes, and the guys will love the chance to see three beautiful gals on celluloid. Tara Reid is very, very funny as the slightly dense rocker and Cook is a joy as the talented and pretty leader of the group. Parker Posey and Alan Cummings are terrific as the evil music executives and they appear to be having a ball oozing bad vibes. The costumes, needless to say, are just what a fashion loving female would admire. There is a love story, too, for those who beg for tale of romance. Then, too, the three young rock stars are very good role models for the younger set. Ladies, whatever your age, try to spend a bit of time with Josie and company. The laughs are infectious while the sweetness-versus-evil plot is guaranteed to provide a venue to help you forget your worries and make you smile, smile, smile.

Don't waste your time. The girls look cute but the story borders on stupidity and the script is ridiculous.

[kchee · 3/10 · 6 April 2001]

The comics and short-lived cartoon series were cute and the characters, well, Josie and the Pussycats are cute also. But really, what else is there? Unfortunately, Josie and the Pussycats - the movie suffers from the lack of an important element in a movie - a decent story.

Writers/directors Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan had hoped to make a satire poking fun at the pop music industry, trend-conscious teens and commercialization of America but the result was a movie that seemed pieced together by paper cut-outs of advertisements and Starbucks coffee cup holders. The problem with Josie and the Pussycats is that the premise of the movie is too simplistic and basic with major work required before it can be turned into a movie script. The government is involved with a major record label to brainwash American youth with subliminal messages to encourage consumption and create trends. That's your entire story, stretched paper-thin into a feature-length movie.

Prophecy in a fun rock film that deserves more attention and appreciation

[martinwjordan · 9/10 · 17 March 2018]

It didnt do too well at launch because it was unfairly compared by Ebert as a Spice Girls movie clone. Unfair and damaging. He was nearly 60 - this wasn't a film for him and he didn't have the foresight this film had to see where teenage pop culture was going. Watch this now and you think - "how did they know?" - the tongue in cheek parody of the music industry and teen marketing is amusingly encapsulated in a film with good rock tunes and a stereotypical fun, teen storyline.

I think this film failed because people thought it would be more loyal to the comic / cartoon but it tried to be a bit more clever than that. Sadly, the audience at the time were not ready for that. Look at comic to movie executions and you see the same sarcasm and self deprecation that this exudes.

Also, Rachel Leigh Cook, Tara Cook & Rosario Dawson do a grand job as the leads and Alan Cumming hams it up wonderfully.

Also - DuJour - on the money.

So Fking funny!!!

[sallyride-26046 · 7/10 · 2 July 2018]

THIS IS A CULT CLASSIC UNDISCOVERED GEM. Amazing songs, hilarious 2001 style, and a goofy Zoolander-type industry spoof with DIVERSE WOMEN as the leads????? Um, okay I get why it wasn't a critical hit but come on, this is FUNNY. Missi Pyle, Parker Posey and Alan Cumming are all hysterical and I quote this movie all the time with my friends. Do not watch this thinking it will change your life. But I guarantee you, if you actually give it a chance, it will make you LAUGH. And that's better.

Don't believe the hype.

[karen-128 · 1/10 · 16 April 2001]

This is just a terrible excuse for product placement, it's not a film. It's really one long commercial, but not nearly as interesting. Poorly written, terribly directed and acted, and yet another example of the junk forced down our throats by idiot studio heads. But don't take my word for it- and certainly don't take the word of all these 'not so bad' reviewers who clearly work for the studio that made this piece of junk- rent it for yourself. It'll be on video within weeks. And in the remainder bin even sooner, where it belongs. What a waste of time and money.

Ahead of Its Time

[keithbrown-90195 · 9/10 · 9 July 2018]

I can't believe this movie was made in 2001. It seriously has a sense of humor that feels so modern. You can just picture the memes and gifs that would come from this nowadays.

Anyways, the plot is absurd, but pretty funny. The music is catchy. The characters are ridiculous and the villains are amazing. Only thing that holds this back from being a perfect movie is Tara Reid. They needed a smart actor to play someone so dumb, but, you know, it's just Tara Reid being Tara Reid..

Amusing satire on the power & brainwashing of the music industry

[Wuchakk · 7/10 · 14 December 2018]

I never saw the original cartoon or read the comics on which it was based, but "Josie and the Pussycats" (2001) is fun and the three protagonists are attractive & enthusiastic (Rachael Leigh Cook, Tara Reid & Rosario Dawson). Yet the movie shoots for something deeper as this is an amusing and potent satire on the influence and manipulation of the entertainment industry.

Alan Cumming is outstanding as the villainous band manager who uses bands, abuses them and throws them away at whim. His opening scene with the fictional boyband Du Jour is worth the price of admission. Parker Posey is also good as his diabolical superior. Curvy and towering Missi Pyle is also on hand as Alexandra.

Ever wonder why all those musicians die in mysterious plane crashes, overdoses, etc. at the height of their fame? How about all those successful government cover-ups? How do artists with little actual talent and songwriting abilities become hugely popular, usually overnight, while the truly talented artists languish in obscurity? Why do you sometimes have this insane drive for a Big Mac or Coke? "Josie and the Pussycats" explains all, lol.

As for those who complain about the product placement, they all live on Aduh Street.

Unfortunately, the great set-up of the first hour sorta peters out in the last act. It's okay, just not up to the quality of the first two acts, as far as compelling writing goes.

The film runs 98 minutes.

GRADE: B

Mindless without plot and endless ads. Despicable.

[Alexyyz · 1/10 · 21 August 2013]

Harbourfront should not have screened this movie.

This movie is an insult to what a movie should be. It lacks an interesting script that an adult can follow. Perhaps, it is meant for 8 year olds. I watched the animated comic as a kid and remember the cartoon being interesting, something this piece of crap lacks entirely. On the other hand, it is full of logos for real products that gets annoying in an instant. This piece of worthless celluloid is full of logos almost on every frame. I cannot believe I actually sat through the whole thing. A lot of other reviewers give this movie more points because they believe that the endless product placements are being satirized but given the amount of it, it must have been how the movie ended up getting a budget.

One redeeming aspect is the actors but they have shot themselves in he foot by being associated with this piece of worthless drivel. I mean, to go from Titus Andronicus to this for Alan Cumming is beyond the pale. Had this movie had a worthwhile story it would have been great. Instead we got a horrible pastiche.

"Josie and the Pussycats" is a jerkin' movie.

[TxMike · 12 August 2002]

This is another one of those movies that my local library has on DVD, so all it cost me was 90 minutes. Well, maybe 2 hours when you consider the extras I watched. With low expectations going in, I actually like this film a lot. It is "jerkin!" (See the film, one of the subliminal messages, along with colors, food products, shoes, and of course the band itself.) Josie and the Pussycats is a product of Archie Comics.

The back story is the need for record producer (Parker Posey) to find a new group, any group, simply as a "carrier" for their marketing messages. The group doesn't need to be very good, and this one isn't. Rachael leigh Cook is excellent as Josie, the lead singer, and Tara Reid is funny as the ditzy drummer of the group. (As an aside, they all were taught to play their instruments during performances so they look natural, even though professional playing and singing were over dubbed.)

Well, eventually the smart Josie figures out the scheme and foils it. They give a real, unencumbered concert performance, she gets the boy she wanted all the time. The whole film spoofs product placement and the recording industry that takes unknowns and through hype, molds them into hit groups for the profit of the handlers. Sort of like the current TV series "American Pop Idol" where a winner will be selected in a few weeks.

"Josie and the Pussycats" is a well-made and entertaining film, if one just watches it for what it is. Most professional critics just don't "get it."

An Honest Review

[generationofswine · 7/10 · 1 April 2017]

It's not overly good.

In fact, it's kind of like the Spice Girls Movie...only about a thousand times better...which makes it about as good as your standard direct-to-video sci-fi film.

Only with Rachael Leigh Cook which, if you were like me, you were absolutely in love with her and, as a result, you watched it a heck of a lot more than you would even the best direct-to-video Sci-Fi film.

So you have a plot about subliminal messaging that would fit better in a '60s era Bond film than a movie like this...except, today the plot and the movie work a heck of a lot better than they did in 2001 when it first came out.

In fact, when it was released it really deserved a 4/10 tops and that was really only "I'm in Love with Rachael Leigh Cook" points.

Now, in 2017 it actually deserves a 7/10 it is a much better and more relevant movie today than when it was first released.

Unfortunately that's not saying anything about the quality of Josie and the Pussycats, it's still really just a better version of the Spice Girls Movie...It's really just saying a heck of a lot about the movies of this current era in Hollywood that even changes the relevance of the film.

So, there you have it. The bottom line is, Rachael Leigh Cook is awesome, most movies in 2017 kind of really stink, and if you loved the Spice Girls Movie this is going to be like Citizen Kane for you.

excruciating to watch.

[nikole · 2/10 · 6 May 2001]

i love alam cumming. i love parker posey. i love rosario dawson. i love gabriel mann. i love spoofs of boy groups. i love all-girl bands.

i really wanted to love this movie. i had heard only bad things about it, but since "the mummy returns" was sold out, and i was still in the mood for mindless fun, i got a ticket to see "josie and the pussycats." it started off great, and i enjoyed dujour, the spoof of boy groups. i enjoyed seeing the all too real frustration of starting out as a band and playing horrible shows that no one goes to.

and then after that, when the "plot" decided to kick in -- it was horrible. i laughed at things, but i can't remember any of them. towards the end i was just waiting for the movie to end, and it took its sweet time.

i realize that the product placements were there for a reason, to point out how ubiquitous they are, and how we're used to them. but this was so in your face your couldn't help but become nauseated. so yes, friendship before fame. right. good point.

i just wish for tara reid to stop acting and for rachel leigh cook to *start* acting, cos it seems that she keeps playing the same incredibly bland and supposedly smart characters.

feh.

two stars out of ten.

Way better than you'd think

[BandSAboutMovies · 6/10 · 21 July 2020]

Who would expect that a big budget movie based on an Archie Comic and Hanna-Barbera cartoon would end up being a movie so willing to bite the hand that feeds and present a world where the world of pop music is all one giant conspiracy to sell you things? While it's selling you things, of course.

Yet despite being savaged by critics back and bombing at the box office at the start of this century, this movie feels more relevant today than nearly anything else that played theaters in 2001. It's skewering of consumerism is, if anything, even more relevant today. And man, the songs are catchy.

Josie McCoy (Rachael Leigh Cook), Melody Valentine (Tara Reid) and Valerie Brown (Rosario Dawson) are the Pussycats, who have been selected to replace DuJour, the latest and hottest band, but also one who have learned that this is all a big scam on the kids. They pay the price when their plane goes down over Riverdale.

Now, Wyatt Frame (Alan Cumming) and Fiona (Parker Posey) have promised the one world government that her new band won't need to be killed via drug overdose and will get the job done - or else Carson Daly will wipe them out on the set of Total Request Live.

There are so many products placed in this movie that it becomes virtual overload, yet none of them were paid for by the actual companies. They were all placed there by the filmmakers and there are around 73 different products in this movie.

Those songs I mentioned - that's Kay Hanley from Letters to Cleo singing - make this movie even better.

Deborah Kaplan (who is married to Breckin Meyer, who has a cameo in this movie) and Harry Elfont wrote and directed this movie. They've worked together on plenty of other films, including A Very Brady Sequel, Can't Hardly Wait, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, Surviving Christmas, Made of Honor and Leap Year. However, this would be the last movie they'd direct.

Bubblegum for brains...

[moonspinner55 · 3/10 · 20 August 2006]

Based on the comic-book characters first introduced in the "Archies" series, Josie, Val and Melody are three rockin' small town girls who want to taste big-time success on the pop charts; enter a nefarious (and comically ridiculous) talent scout named Wyatt Frame and soon the Pussycats are on their way. Watching this live-action version of the early-'70s animated Saturday morning TV series from Hanna-Barbera, I couldn't help wondering whether screenwriters Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont even saw the show or perhaps held it in such disdain that they avoided it completely. Their script is (more or less) a satirical comment on the teen-oriented pop music craze of 2001 (with "intentionally funny" product placements); however, the TV-counterpart was about the personalities involved, which in turn made the band's adventures on the road more engaging. This "Josie and The Pussycats" is trendy and fluffball-friendly (it really wowed them over at the Teen Choice Awards), with villains--the overacting Alan Cumming and Parker Posey--coming off like leftovers from "Hudson Hawk". True, Hanna-Barbera's version wasn't exactly wicked with wit, either, but at least it moved. Kaplan and Elfont, who also co-directed, can't get their picture off the ground, and many viewers won't make it through the final 15 minutes, which is torturous. *1/2 from ****

Movie has a bold message, executed with brilliant humor

[tmillen04 · 10/10 · 30 March 2005]

This is a movie that satirizes today's pop culture, and does a brilliant job of it. The cast and musical score are excellent and all of its jokes are funny and well placed. People say that the movie becomes what it is making fun of. Well, isn't that the idea? The movie is packed with about a billion logos appearing everywhere you look in the background, and a scene with an audience of cardboard cut-out celebrities. These are there to add to the atmosphere of the film. This movie is very strong, very well done, and has a real sense of humor. To top it off, it's led by a band with music that's so good you can't even tell they're not real. If you haven't seen it, go watch it. I'd recommend buying the soundtrack as well.

Take the Chevy to the Levy.....

[FlashCallahan · 7/10 · 20 April 2013]

Record industries inserts subliminal messages into music so that they can make teenagers do nothing but buy whatever is requested.

Whenever a musician or band finds out the truth, the record company silences them to keep the truth from coming out. When boy band DuJour discover this, their manager, Wyatt, has the plane they are flying in crash, and leaves him looking for a new band to use for evil schemes.

Enter 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......

Cruelly overlooked on initial release, this film is a damning satire on product placement, which manages to fit placement into almost every scene. It kind of defeats the purpose, but its intentionally hilarious.

It's camp from beginning to end, and I can imagine that many on here have given it a low rating because they are ashamed to admit this film is rather good, but hey, life's too short, and its a lively fun movie, that doesn't hurt with the fact that Leigh Cooke is beautiful to look at and makes the film really easy on the eye.

Read between the lines of the film, it really does stick a big middle finger up to teens and manufactured bands who clog up media attention one minute, and disappear next.

It's very topical, and I for one feel that this movie should be shown to teenagers between the ages of 13 to 18, to be used as a warning that these boy bands, girl groups are just there to make you buy lots of poorly made goods at stupid prices.

Actually, this film is probably based on true events.

Hilarious and probably kryptonite to Simon Cowell.

Heavy-handed satire blended in with the usual teen movie cliches

[mattymatt4ever · 3/10 · 14 August 2001]

"Josie and the Pussycats" was directed by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont, who directed that awful teen comedy "Can't Hardly Wait." It's not surprising that they struck out again with this virtually unwatchable pop culture satire/nauseating teen-bopper flick.

It's starts off with a bang, spoofing the whole "boy band" craze with Seth Green, Donald Faison and Breckin Meyer (who are all recycled cast members from "Can't Hardly Wait") all part of a group called DeJour. The way they show them flaunting themselves and the millions of annoying girls melting at their knees, screaming their lungs out, hits the target dead-on. Now that's good satire.

The rest of the stuff, involving product placement, subliminal messages and incoming fads becomes preachy and heavy-handed. It even assists the film in wandering into one-joke territory. Only sporadically did I laugh at the often pitiful attempts at satire. I understand what this film is trying to prove! Pop culture can be used for fraudulent purposes! Music managers can screw you over! Bands have a good tendency to break up, with the lead singer starting a solo career! Product placement can go too far! These are all good ideas for satire. But it all lies in the execution. In this case, the execution is very poor. All the satirical jabs are delivered in a forceful fashion. The actors would've been better off reading their lines off cue cards. Maybe if it were handled by a better team of writers and directors, with a better sense of intelligence and wit this could've been much more effective. A bunch of ditsy teen girls screaming out, "Pink is cool! Pink is the new red!" is not funny. It's annoying. But, as it turns out, the film is just as shallow and one-note as their previous disaster "Can't Hardly Wait," only hiding behind a slick, satirical facade.

Tara Reid's character is totally annoying. She plays the stereotypical dumb blonde. Her job is to ape around and say mindless things. Even retarded characters have to be handled with a certain sense of self-awareness. Even the characters of Bill and Ted, though simple-minded, weren't saying stupid things on account of stupid writing. They were saying stupid things on account of witty writing. But Tara saying, "Wouldn't it be cool if I can REALLY be in two places at the same time?" and running around the house like a fool saying, "I can be in the bedroom and the kitchen" and so on and so on--that is just plain stupid! I think the whole dumb blonde gag is one that has been done to death. And unless it's handled very delicately, the gag can fail miserably and sometimes even make you wanna gag. Alan Cumming is amusing as the sleazy manager. He's one of the few cast members to breathe life into this bland comedy. He's a fine actor and breathes more life into almost anything he does. He brings a touch of professionalism into this otherwise sloppy, amateurish work. Cumming brings in a couple of the sporadic laughs I had while watching the film. Also keep your eyes peeled (if you still decide to see this movie) for the great Eugene Levy, who has an amusing cameo. Eugene's the man! Rosario Dawson is a fine actress, who unfortunately doesn't always pick the best scripts. She starred in the awfully overrated "Kids" and the cliched urban drama "Light It Up" and now this? Rosario, you're a good, attractive actress. Make better career decisions.

And of course, we couldn't do without that predictable romantic subplot, in which the guy has a hots for a girl--in this case Josie (Rachael Leigh Cook)--and just doesn't know how to tell her. We know EXACTLY how it's all gonna progress and how it's all gonna end up, so why the hell are you even bothering us with this schmaltzy crap?!!! And why is it that the guy who has a crush on the girl is often brutally handsome. As if the girl hasn't jumped on his bones the whole time they've known each other? The climax is the ultimate exercise in preachiness and couldn't deliver its moral in a more "after school special" fashion.

I liked the title song. The film keeps an upbeat attitude, but there's absolutely no style behind the substance, not to mention laughs. Luckily, I watched the movie on DVD. Boy, was my finger itching for that "Stop" button the whole time. And often I succumbed to that itch. I could NOT watch this movie straight-through! It was too much torcher for me! Please don't get torchered like me! If you were torchered by all that previous teen-bopper trash, you'll be torchered again. Beware!

My score: 3 (out of 10)

Du Jour means enjoying this ridiculous movie

[cricketbat · 8/10 · 25 August 2021]

I know that Josie and the Pussycats is a ridiculous adaptation of a silly comic strip. I know the jokes are dated and its look is firmly trapped in the 2000s. Despite all that, I enjoy watching this movie. It still makes me smile & laugh. I think the cast had a blast making this movie, and it shows. The songs are a lot of fun, too. It's not great cinema, but it's the kind of absurd amusement I need every now and then.

We need more silly light comedies

[shoobe01-1 · 7/10 · 26 April 2021]

I got it. Good arch evil light comedy. Makes sense overall.

On the other hand, quick and cheap. Lots of bad acting unless it was supposed to be arch and just didn't play. Think the uncomfortable laugh in Austin Powers; they try that exactly and it fails entirely.

Same for production design. It's delightfully over the top except when it's just meh.

Same for cinematography. It should be full on 60s exploitation movie but instead it is lit, blocked, and filmed like a sitcom.

Oh, and too much "ooh, isn't Rachael Leigh Cook pretty." Like distractingly way too much.

this film is just one long commercial.

[johnrapp · 2/10 · 16 March 2002]

This is one of the worst ever. The story was totally moronic. The cartoon version was much better. The characters were so lame. With all of the product placement, it was like one long commercial. I would not recommend this film for anyone past 7 years of age.