When I was 12, my mom took me to a cool salon, and the stylist told me I looked like the girl from Coyote Ugly (I absolutely do not!). She decided to make my hair look like Piper Perabo's in the movie, which meant I had long layers that she scrunched with salt spray. My hair was one big tangle I brushed out when I got home. Can't fight the moonlight, indeed!
Hahaha... I appreciate the commentary on the unnecessary sexualizing of everything during that time period, especially because it seemed like pop culture, at the time, used this type of movie as a short hand for saying that women and girls are so FREEEEEEEEEEE in the 21st century [to be sexual and nothing but sexual in order to gain cool girl attention/respect, but also we will still call you sluts for it, but don't mind our weird boundary pushing and gender norm enforcement]. I distinctly remember going to a college friend's 21st birthday at a bar a few years after this movie was made, and it included a bunch of random women from the crowd getting up onto the bar to dance for a wet t-shirt contest that clearly was meant to mimic this movie. I also remember "Girls Gone Wild" ads playing CONSTANTLY during that time period. But then, I'd think to myself (in my 19 year old brain): "At least I'm not a lady living in the 70s!" So yes... therapy...
I honestly don't remember ever feeling sorry for her and her weird approach to "submitting her tapes" even though I was 17 when this move came out. It was always obvious that she had done no research on how to become a songwriter. And then when all her tapes get returned to her she just dumps them off her stairs I guess on to the floor of her building's lobby. Who cleaned that up?
I KNOW!!!! I had that in my notes but I didn’t mention it because this one was getting sooooooo long, but she LITERALLY DOES JUST DUMP THEM DOWN THE STAIRWELL. IT IS UNHINGED.
Honestly, LG I’m so excited for you that LW replied personally to your comment. Woowoo! I know you’ll read this because if that happened to me, I’d bookmark the page and look at it constantly for days.
If memory serves, this movie was for naive teens who liked to make out but were scared of parties and sex (and good films?) and needed some place for making out. Saw this in theaters, remember nothing about it, am ashamed. (Johnny Knoxville shows up???)
Can the next movie you review be (500) Days of Summer? Seeing dear movies from middle/high school through your lense has been enlightening and horrifying. I think you can really do that one justice.
No mention of the mint condition red convertible owned by said burger boy who parked on the street in the meatpacking district? I’ve been waiting to have this convo, btw.
This movie was an early "oh wait I might not be straight" moment for me-- John Goodman's shame is my gain I guess-- so I have a soft spot for it, but yeah. It's not a good movie. And I was also bored by the nervousness. Delightful review.
Can this please be a podcast? I get around to reading them when I’m stuck in line or waiting for take out, but I would LISTEN to them so much more eagerly! Yes, I am also lazy.
I was told that the target audience for this movie is lesbians, and I can kinda see that for 90s-era lesbians. Plus Piper Perabo was in at least two movies where she played a queer character.
I truly was cackling at the 38 minutes from Manhattan line -- mostly because my ACTUAL NEW JERSEY RELATIVES who live in Bayonne, NJ, like, 20 minutes from Manhattan would have DEFINITELY been like, "oh nooooo the big city that we only go to once per year to see a performance of Tony & Tina's Wedding don't move there are you crazy it's so dangerous!!!!!!!"
Oh my GOD, this movie must have come out when I was EIGHT YEARS OLD and yet somehow in the following years (I think when I was in middle school?), my sister and I watched it like a million times and thought it was so amazing. It's hilarious, having not seen it again since I was that age, reading through this and realizing a) how much I want to watch it again to compare and b) HOW FUCKING AWFUL IT REALLY IS LMAOOOOO!!!!! Thank you for doing this movie, because holy shit I have all kinds of weird nostalgia now but am also dying laughing.
And also, I love that Chekhov's Fat Dad was a red herring, and actually turned out to be Checkhov's Toll Booth. Good work, for such a fat-shamey opening sequence
When I was 12, my mom took me to a cool salon, and the stylist told me I looked like the girl from Coyote Ugly (I absolutely do not!). She decided to make my hair look like Piper Perabo's in the movie, which meant I had long layers that she scrunched with salt spray. My hair was one big tangle I brushed out when I got home. Can't fight the moonlight, indeed!
Hahaha... I appreciate the commentary on the unnecessary sexualizing of everything during that time period, especially because it seemed like pop culture, at the time, used this type of movie as a short hand for saying that women and girls are so FREEEEEEEEEEE in the 21st century [to be sexual and nothing but sexual in order to gain cool girl attention/respect, but also we will still call you sluts for it, but don't mind our weird boundary pushing and gender norm enforcement]. I distinctly remember going to a college friend's 21st birthday at a bar a few years after this movie was made, and it included a bunch of random women from the crowd getting up onto the bar to dance for a wet t-shirt contest that clearly was meant to mimic this movie. I also remember "Girls Gone Wild" ads playing CONSTANTLY during that time period. But then, I'd think to myself (in my 19 year old brain): "At least I'm not a lady living in the 70s!" So yes... therapy...
God what a bizarre timeline we live in. It’s pretty wild to look back with clarity.
I honestly don't remember ever feeling sorry for her and her weird approach to "submitting her tapes" even though I was 17 when this move came out. It was always obvious that she had done no research on how to become a songwriter. And then when all her tapes get returned to her she just dumps them off her stairs I guess on to the floor of her building's lobby. Who cleaned that up?
I KNOW!!!! I had that in my notes but I didn’t mention it because this one was getting sooooooo long, but she LITERALLY DOES JUST DUMP THEM DOWN THE STAIRWELL. IT IS UNHINGED.
Honestly, LG I’m so excited for you that LW replied personally to your comment. Woowoo! I know you’ll read this because if that happened to me, I’d bookmark the page and look at it constantly for days.
Hahaha I did read it and I was/am very excited!
During the critical Sexy Clothing Makeover when she looks in the mirror and murmurs, “forgive me father, for I have sinned.” WHAT?? I HATE IT!!!
i wrote this moment down in my notes and then when the time came i simply could not engage with it, it was too painful
tys I’m BIS TRAIN
If memory serves, this movie was for naive teens who liked to make out but were scared of parties and sex (and good films?) and needed some place for making out. Saw this in theaters, remember nothing about it, am ashamed. (Johnny Knoxville shows up???)
Two Mark McGrath references in one week! 😘
Can the next movie you review be (500) Days of Summer? Seeing dear movies from middle/high school through your lense has been enlightening and horrifying. I think you can really do that one justice.
No mention of the mint condition red convertible owned by said burger boy who parked on the street in the meatpacking district? I’ve been waiting to have this convo, btw.
yes, and his FAKE BOOT (kind of legitimately a good idea????)
This movie was an early "oh wait I might not be straight" moment for me-- John Goodman's shame is my gain I guess-- so I have a soft spot for it, but yeah. It's not a good movie. And I was also bored by the nervousness. Delightful review.
Can this please be a podcast? I get around to reading them when I’m stuck in line or waiting for take out, but I would LISTEN to them so much more eagerly! Yes, I am also lazy.
I realize this is a two-year-old comment, but I JUST recorded this for the next Butt News Podcast, coming out tomorrow! I hope you like it! <3
I was told that the target audience for this movie is lesbians, and I can kinda see that for 90s-era lesbians. Plus Piper Perabo was in at least two movies where she played a queer character.
I truly was cackling at the 38 minutes from Manhattan line -- mostly because my ACTUAL NEW JERSEY RELATIVES who live in Bayonne, NJ, like, 20 minutes from Manhattan would have DEFINITELY been like, "oh nooooo the big city that we only go to once per year to see a performance of Tony & Tina's Wedding don't move there are you crazy it's so dangerous!!!!!!!"
https://www.gq.com/story/elizabeth-gilbert-gq-march-1997-muse-coyote-ugly-saloon/amp
And based on (?) a GQ article by Elizabeth Gilbert before she ate, prayed and loved.
Which I just went back and read and JFC she worked there. That’s a piece that has not aged well.
Oh my GOD, this movie must have come out when I was EIGHT YEARS OLD and yet somehow in the following years (I think when I was in middle school?), my sister and I watched it like a million times and thought it was so amazing. It's hilarious, having not seen it again since I was that age, reading through this and realizing a) how much I want to watch it again to compare and b) HOW FUCKING AWFUL IT REALLY IS LMAOOOOO!!!!! Thank you for doing this movie, because holy shit I have all kinds of weird nostalgia now but am also dying laughing.
And also, I love that Chekhov's Fat Dad was a red herring, and actually turned out to be Checkhov's Toll Booth. Good work, for such a fat-shamey opening sequence