Licorice Pizza

By: Jamie Steinberg

Like many others who have seen Licorice Pizza, my initial post-viewing response was, “What the hell did I just watch?” The simplest attempt at an explanation behind the movie is that it follows a will-they-won’t they relationship between fifteen-year-old boy and twenty-five-year-old woman. However, what should be a film with a flowing plot is more like a series of vignettes that are pieced together – forming something that doesn’t truly connect. For those who are a fan of director Paul Thomas Anderson’s previous work, maybe this is the one you should let pass.

It’s 1973 and child actor Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman) is standing in line at his high school waiting for his class picture to be made when he comes across Alana Kane (Alana Haim – as in the musical group Haim). She works for the photography company and when she offers him a comb and mirror for one last pre-photo styling he is immediately smitten. From there the entire film is simply a series of scenarios where Gary tries to impress Alana and Alana pretends to not to be interested in him only to attempt to make him jealous at every opportunity. On top of that, at some point the two mix business with pleasure and become partners for various ventures – oddly one of which is selling water beds (featuring an utterly curious cameo from Bradley Cooper as a client).

If the film sounds out of sorts, that is because it is. Usually, I would be telling you my favorite scenes and lauding praises on the director for their cinematic choices; however, I don’t have that option here. There was not one moment that stands out in the film where I can definitively say how amazing it was, how surprising it was, how insane it was or even how cool it was! I think my sole ability to comment on specific scenes is to keep an eye out for interestingly placed cameos by Sean Penn, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance by John C. Reilly and, of course, the previous mention of an eccentric role played by Bradley Cooper.

For those looking for insight behind the title of the film Licorice Pizza, watching the movie won’t help so get busy on Google. And if you are looking for an upcoming iconic film reminiscent of Fast Times at Ridgemont High or Dazed and Confused – you’ll see the connection Anderson was attempting, but viewers won’t fall as head over heels.