Josie and the Pussycats: A Misunderstood Satire

[@livetwig]

I don't understand how when I saw this as a tween, I understood that all the product placement was part of the message but adult film critics didn't.

[@AsianBear43]

Plot twist they were controlled to pan it

[@TheMrelvisvicious]

Mr. Moviefone told them the movie was bad.

[@Nikki-wt8ss]

Right? Critics said it was hypocritical because of all the product placement... uhhhhhh, someone missed the point.

[@AnimeBronx]

Stop making excuses for a movie that everyone else thinks sucks, but you like. This movie is trash!

[@AnimeBronx]

@@Nikki-wt8ss Stop making excuses for a movie that everyone else thinks sucks, but you like. This movie is trash!

[@livingabstraction2206]

So glad I recently bought this movie on DVD just a few weeks ago. Man it's jaw dropping to think how many people missed the obvious satirical message of the movie. I remember watching this movie when I was 10 years old and even I could understand it then.

[@haute03]

Same! This film taught me about product placement and led me to notice product placement in other movies. I'm genuinely wondering if there was some conspiracy behind those reviews because, as Second Chance said, the message of the movie was incredibly obvious.

[@gustavopaniza9964]

Man I was 12 when I watch it on TV for the first time and I totally understand it. I mean, the plot is pretty obvious and the movie just tells you what's all about. I watched again today and oh boy I enjoyed and laughed the same way as I did back then.

[@rsfilmdiscussionchannel4168]

This movie is to product placement what Spec Ops The Line was to people that commit violence. Unsubtle about criticising it yet mistaken somewhat for being hypocritical. You could compare it to enjoyment of media violence in Funny Games or even blackface in any film that’s criticising racism. People mistake employment for endorsement and think that criticism of that employment is invalid.

[@rsfilmdiscussionchannel4168]

JATP is employing it along with the story so that we notice it in our everyday lives and don’t fall for it. Obviously those brands were probably under the impression they’d do well because they featured, but the story is actually suggesting that you don’t, even if it’s doing so in an over the top and cartoony way.

[@AtomicMama42]

So grateful my dad took me to see it, explained so much to me

[@bmh1992]

A similar marketing issue happened with Jennifer's Body upon initial release. The film is so clearly a satire yet it was marketed to teens as a blockbuster horror movie. People didn't appreciate the dark comedy because it was targeted at the wrong audience.

[@kelsey403]

it isn't even satire! It's a horror movie made for girls, but was marketed towards boys because "Megan Fox hot." ( legit fucking quote. They also heavily marketed it with the kiss between Jennifer and Needy) Yhara Zayd has a great video on the fiflm. I really recommend her videos. But basically, anything geared towards girls or women is automatically deemed stupid, unworthy of critical thought, and just straight up garbage. Jennifer's Body is a feminist cult classic, that I'm 100% here for. It's in my top 5 movies, for sure. Edit: I went back to watch the interview that Megan Fox and Diablo Cody did, and Megan's face when Diablo recounted the email "Megan Fox hot" is really heartbreaking.

[@fernandaperret595]

Another example is Bandslam, which was marketed as another High School Musical

[@gabe1900]

Josie and the Pussycats AND Spice World are both masterpieces, thank you for coming to my Ted talk.

[@indigoldd]

P E R I O D

[@lizzybethnj617]

Facts

[@wendynerd1199]

This is the girl version of Starship Troopers.

[@SecondChanceShow]

This is the best comment.

[@Sam-yx9ry]

....you’re not wrong 😂 Love them both. Very clever, and very fun movies.

[@dodgyb2001]

This! When I went to see Starship Troopers with my mates, I was the only one laughing my arse off while they all thought it was trying to be straight. I went to see Josie with little in the way of expectations, but absolutely loved it and laughed so hard at the MacDonalds logo in the shower. How much more ridiculous can you get? One of my favourite unseen gems.

[@beatriceanobah6388]

I loved starship troopers! I was a teen and the right audience for this film when it was out but my friends and I completely missed it

[@haljordan777]

Then why do I love both?

[@michaelramsey82]

It still breaks my heart how underappreciated this movie is. Every critic somehow managed to miss the most obvious meta joke in a movie stuffed with obvious meta jokes. It's a near-perfect movie that it seems almost no one is aware of. Also, this is a fantastic video essay and it's criminal that you have so few subscribers!

[@AnimeBronx]

😂😂😂😂 Stop making excuses for a movie that everyone else thinks sucks, but you like. This movie is trash!

[@ellenk8269]

@@AnimeBronxyou are obviously one of the people that missed the point of the film and it’s okay. Not everyone can analyze films beyond face value 😂

[@JetWindTV]

@@AnimeBronx Maybe you are just watching it from a very cynical viewpoint or are lacking the historical context. I can imagine people that didn't live through the 2000s would struggle a lot with this film and find it a bit cringe. It's not super deep or anything but it does really dissect the culture pretty well. It also doesn't take it's self too seriously even with the serious implications. It is a very good silly popcorn movie with a message.

[@sweetdee8884]

It's wild to see how many critics heads this went over. Like?? lol

[@marasilva3349]

Linda Sumusica

[@danielqcallahan]

Roger Ebert’s loathing of this movie is particularly baffling because he literally wrote a movie that was a satire of the music industry with a teen girl pop band: “Beyond The Valley of The Dolls.” It’s the only movie he ever took a writing credit on.

[@kf8113]

He was jealous, clearly!

[@jknapier217]

My God -- I LOVED this movie! I still listen to the soundtrack all the time, actually. It's pretty bangin'. I was 11 when this movie came out and I remember "getting it" and being astounded by grown-ups who didn't. At the very least, I was pretty sure Carson Daly would never be a strongman for a group of evil music producers who wanted to sell products. Great episode!

[@filmgeek1711]

same!

[@ahhwe-any7434]

Carson Daly is the only dude who didn't go in for Christina. She had to be like not even 18 when she came out 🤔🤷🏻‍♀️. I remember it was rumored he quit show biz to become a preacher... 😅. That's ironic he'd be on this movie, but is remembered to be the host of Trl. Although I'm pretty sure I've seen him on et some more recent yrs. Carson Daly is a 🦀♋

[@a-aron4148]

@@ahhwe-any7434 he had a late night show until 2019..

[@JenniferKlumpp]

When this movie came out in the theaters, I went with a group of friends with the /intention/ of sitting in the back and ragging on it mst3k style. We were all sure it was going to be godawful. And then that first song started up and we realized what was happeening and not a single joke was made, we unabashedly loved it and tried to sell it to everyone we knew. I'm glad it's finally getting some of the fandom it very much deserves.

[@Interitus1]

It literally angers me how much people don't understand the product placement . I had such a weird relationship with this film. When it originally came out a friend suggested to see it. But she only talked about Melody being goofy in the shower scene. So it didn't sound interesting. Years later in college I was taking a film class and the class PA convinced a bunch of us to watch the movie and I realised how amazing it actually was. Since then I've shown this movie to anyone who will watch it.

[@JL0ndon]

I was 11 years old when this came out and it was such revelation. as a little gay boy i loved everything from the fashion to the camp to the soundtrack to the humor. As I get older I really love how meta it is, and also the super anti-corporation message. It came at a super critical time for me and I bought the CD with my own money. I still know all the lyrics by heart but this was the movie that got me into playing music and learning guitar. I wanted to be in a band just like that! my 3 best girl friends dressed up as them and i dressed up like alan m in 6th grade LOL

[@GREG_Khar-NÜ-Metalhead2000]

U don't have to be gay to like those fashion,music,vibe etc cuz I'm pretty straight,tOxIc masculine men ughhh

[@JL0ndon]

@@GREG_Khar-NÜ-Metalhead2000 obviously, i was just saying i was a little gay boy because it was meant to give an idea of the type of kid i was, a little effeminate and into things others boys weren’t. it was just who i was and this movie was very formative in the person i became. It had nothing to do with the fashion etc. i was just saying that it was eye catching and were things i loved. Camp is also something that i think a lot of gay people learn about and start to appreciate when they are young hence why i was saying i enjoyed it. Campy movies or performances are something that are very part of gay culture.

[@gabe.6273]

@@GREG_Khar-NÜ-Metalhead2000 lmao imagine being subscribed to Ben Shapiro lmao

[@littleseamstress]

i was 11 too and i loved all the clothes and i grew up watching JATP so it was really exciting when the movie came out

[@choux8372]

When I watched it as a child, the jokes and references flew right over my head, but its saving grace was the fashion and music. When I bought the dvd as an adult, i was excited to listen to "Why can't you just pretend to be nice" again, but i was not prepared for the masterpiece laying beneath the frosty eyelids and low rise jeans. Everything about the movie is so much fun to watch and it's interesting to watch it repeatedly and catch little things you didn't notice before (like the constant product placement in nearly every single frame)

[@Nikki-wt8ss]

So ahead of it’s time. Critics said it was hypocritical because of all the product placement... uhhhhhh, someone missed the point. Such a fun film and the soundtrack is fantastic!

[@ScottDePanfilis]

The music was fun. Rachael Leigh Cook's back up voice is solid, love her energy, and Kay Hanley who sang all the songs is pure gold!

[@TheMarkoPolo2011]

This movie was so far ahead of it's time.

[@AnimeBronx]

😂😂 the movie is trash

[@klepetar]

the funny thing is that the music in this movie is now more interesting than some of the junk currently on the radio!!

[@a-aron4148]

Bro you’re too young to be thinking like that already save yourself before you end up yelling at clouds

[@kingrix]

So glad KZbin recommended this from another video about the best movie ever. Hyperbole aside, Josie and the Pussycats is an amazing satire and extremely fun to watch. I've seen it dozens of times and it never fails to make me laugh.

[@jencapella9407]

I just love this! I saw this movie as a tween and it’s the thing that made me take playing guitar and making music seriously. I would be never admit that at the time because Josie was a “teen girl movie” (which was shameful to admit even as a teenage girl for some reason? Uhh...) But no more: I freakin’ adore this movie. Thank you for verbalizing why this is a completely underrated and misunderstood classic. Plus every song it a total bop 🎶

[@SecondChanceShow]

It's so cool to hear how it made such a positive impact on your life! Thank you for sharing!

[@chandlertherambler]

Soundtrack is fricking SOLID 👌👌👌

[@apersonlikeanyother6895]

My daughter also took up the electric guitar because of this movie! I loved it too and still do!

[@BigAmericanGirlFan]

It's kinda similar to comparing Nostalgia Critic's DCOM month to Disney Brain's DCOM analysis. Disney Brain saw bigger visions and choices by the directors and how they wanted to spread a message. He sees how tight Lemonade Mouth's story is or how Decesndants can speak to race and people's perceptions of you based on external factors, taking the directors and their choices seriously, while Nostalgia Critic mocks them because he can't seem to think that any of these actors or directors want to put any effort in it because it is for teenage girls.

[@SecondChanceShow]

Isabella P. That's a very astute comparison. Definitely seems like the same situation.

[@PHSDM104]

To be fair, the Walker brothers tend to be very dismissive of anything that's not aimed at their demographic. If I only had a nickel for every Disneycember review that I rolled my eyes at for Doug missing the point...

[@alextan1478]

2:44, The inclusion of A Star is Born (2018) was very clever since that movie & Josie and the Pussycats (2001) were both shot by the same cinematographer, Matthew Libatique.

[@adrianabootie]

I'm feeling vindicated for LOVING this movie for 20 years. Thank you! (Also, thanks for making the Fight Club connection... another one of my since-vindicated favorites... guess I like satire!)

[@cpw2082]

Movies like “Josie” and “Jennifer’s Body” are an acquired taste. They aren’t filled to the brim with special effects or huge name actors, its more about the message its trying to send and I gotta say, I admire that. Both these and other movies like it don’t need the approval of Hollywood or critics to be successful, they stand on their own 👌🏽❤️

[@seanmatyas3938]

Have you seen Beyond the Valley of the Dolls? It did what Josie did but better and decades earlier.

[@rahbeeuh]

Is Scott Pilgrim vs the World kinda like those movies?

[@AnimeBronx]

😂😂😂 soap box much? but both of those movies are garbage!

[@goodial]

it's funny how you included the KZbin subscribe logo and the Patreon logo in some parts, subliminally advertising yourself! XD

[@Victorianunez10]

i miss movies like this 😭

[@rivermistfae]

This movie flopped?!?! I'm so glad I was 14 at the time and didn't listen to critics. This was my favorite movie for about 4 years 😅 WHAT AN AMAZING SOUNDTRACK AND HOW MANY GREAT ONE LINERS!

[@davidlehre]

When this movie came out, I remember it getting killed by critics and the media. It wasn't popular, and it was instantly written off by me and most of my friends at the time. This video nails it: It was bad marketing. I watched it for the first time, 20 years later, and it was awesome. It totally fits with some of the best fun comedies of the Y2K era.

[@PHSDM104]

I was 16 when this movie came out. My brother mentioned what product placement was at the beginning of the film and it immediately clicked in my head that the film was a satire. Honestly, in the age of social media and reality TV, this movie actually aged well. There's some truth to the movie.

[@mutsortima174]

In addition to being a box office flop, _Josie and the Pussycats_ also derailed the long-standing partnership between Archie Comics and Disney that had existed since the 1970s, although their breakup wasn't officially confirmed until two years after this film's release.

[@SecondChanceShow]

Mutsor Tim That is fascinating! Thank you for sharing.

[@johnm.withersiv4352]

I wish Jem and the Holograms had been this good. Josie and the Pussycats is a great film with a powerful message about commodification. I'm glad its my daughter favorite film. Sadly, the live action Jem and the Holograms failed to have a strong message about social media despite clearly wanting to be this film when it grew up.

[@VoyageOne1]

*GASP* "Youuuu slept with him!!!"

[@DeenaSuzanne]

Watched this to absolute death about 2 decades ago and remains to this day, one of my absolute favourites! Such a fun and self aware film. Just goes to show, critics know 💩

[@thefantasticretroreviewer3941]

1:21, I grew up with the Hanna-Barbera Cartoon compared to the Archie Comic Book Series (and no, I'm not THAT old when these came out in the early 1960s) in my House.

[@arnesahlen2704]

GOOD for you! A Canadian 🇨🇦 guy, at age 46 I saw this film on 1st release - and thought it insightful & clever. Rachel seems a fine developing actress; how stupid that her career was torpedoed😬😠😡

[@christopherkimber7679]

So I was 20 when this came out. I didn’t see it for a couple years, my friend turned me on to it, and I fell in love with it. I loved the feel of it, how it didn’t take itself so seriously and poked fun at the industry it was a part of. So I was one of the few adults that loved this movie. Just watched it for nostalgic purposes tonight and it still is impressive. I love it.

[@henrykujawa4427]

I saw this in a theatre and loved it. It reminded me of an alternate-universe version of a REAL all-girl band I'd gotten to be friends with and went to see DOZENS of time, THE FRIGGS. Except, of course, they played bars and never got a big record contract. But one of their songs was used in a TV commercial, which probably allowed the band's leader to do whatever she wants with her life. Aside from still playing and making new albums, she also has a job as an internet-radio DJ every Sunday. I always thought it was a missed bet that the girls in this movie didn't make a guest-appearance on "SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH', which was still on at the time. After all, they're both from Riverdale, and both the creations of DAN DeCARLO.

[@iloveyourunclebob]

It's really embarrassing for the grown adults at the time that at age 15 I got this movie and they didn't

[@ThePorpoisepower]

This movie was far better than it had any right being. In addition to just nailing it's satire of mass media/commercialism the main characters chemistry really sells them as friends. Josie and Allan M are stupidly cute together, and Parker Posey and Allan Cumming are amazing as the antagonists. The music is amazing for what it is (high energy punk-pop). Ultimately, it's the greatest movie ever... I'm gonna go join the army.

[@DirkBelig]

My g/f and I saw this in the theater on either opening or its second weekend and we were one of only two couples in the theater, which set a weird vibe. I can't recall what we were expecting going in other that it was about a girl rock band and it starred the cute girl from She's All That and the blonde from American Pie and that girl from Kids. I'm a musician who loves girl rock bands like The Go-Go's and my g/f owned an indie record label, so we were down for some fun. We didn't expect it to be such a brilliant satire - when Alexandra said the "I'm here because I was in the comic book" line, that was the marker and we spent a lot of time trying to convince our very skeptical musical friends that it wasn't just a stupid kids movie. Even better is the soundtrack album which is a great crunchy power-pop gem with songs better than you'd think by writers you can't believe participated. (Adam Duritz? That Sideshow Bob-looking tool from Counting Crows?!?) The movie actual undersells the best songs like "Shapeshifter" and "I Wish You Well" (which Anna Waronker reclaimed for one of her solo albums), and you can finally catch the subtle ribaldry in the liquors like what the video called out. (i.e. "I'm a ten-ticket thrill ride/Don't ya wanna come inside") But there's an even cleverer detail in the chorus of "3 Small Words" - can you spot it? Six whole hours and five long days For all your lies to come undone And those three small words, were way too late 'Cause you can't see that I'm the one Did you notice the numbers and words counted down 6-5-4-3-2-1? I'm probably attuned to such wordplay as a songwriter and that I once wrote lyrics that went: That kiss you took was one too many If you know that three's a crowd, what are you doing this for? Your five senses cannot tell you what my sixth sense reveals That the seven deadly sins [something something, I can't remember now] /pats self on back Josie isn't a perfect movie - the Alan M. stuff is drab because he's got the personality of Wonder bread and the farther away we get from when MTV actually showed videos, when America Online was so powerful it was about to buy Time-Warner, when boy bands were like Backstreet Boy (and not BTS or One Direction), and that Tara Reid and Carson Daly were once a thing (LPT: making movies with your Current Significant Other almost always backfires), the duller the edge is on the commentary is dulled. But the tunes still crackle, the joy isn't overwhelmed by the cynicism - a tricky balance many fail to maintain - the girls are cute and there's nothing more rebellious than liking what the cool kids hate because they don't understand. BTW, Spice World was actually a brilliant movie, too. A group of us went to see it expecting it to suck and just laugh at it. Afterwards, we were all looking at each other and saying, "You know, this was actually really good," because instead of puffing them up, they took the piss out of their images. Like how their tour bus is like the TARDIS, much larger inside, and their areas were themed like their personas. (e.g. Posh's was a runway where she posed while reading fashion mags.) After watching Josie, my g/f mentioned Spice World and no streaming services have it and I didn't want to go dig up the DVD. And come on, that bus jump scene with the toy bus! Final point, re: the DVD - it was nearly impossible to find the widescreen unedited version of Josie. It was never released on Blu-ray, but you can get it on the usual streaming retailers. At this time, it's streaming on Showtime, Cinemax, and Starz, so no excuses if you have those! Go watch it! RIP Adam Schlesinger, who passed yesterday just a few days after we'd rewatched this.

[@colettebezio1913]

Awesome commentary. ^^ I'm not sure why I ever watched this movie back in the day, because the DVD was packaged like dimwitted exploitative stuff I would expect to despise, and I was hating on the trend of making live-action films out of old cartoons, but the wacky humor totally blew me away. Nobody else I know gets this movie. Thanks for letting me know the original uncut version is hard to find, I will make sure to treasure mine.

[@ivu1303]

I feel like it was rated so poorly because there’s a lot of truth in this movie. The big guys didn’t want us to think too hard

[@kit-kat9466]

If my middle-school brain understood Josies & the Pussycats was a *fantastic* satire, there is no way adult critics didn't "get it".

[@notchuckproductions5029]

One other tidbit to understand about this film is this came out in the brief 2 yaer period when WB was rebooting Hanna Barbra proprieties as experimental subversive adult content. In a span of 2 years you had Sealab 2021,The Flintstones: On the Rocks,Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law, and the live action Scooby Doo movie witch It was originally intended to be a self aware PG-13 satire like this film. So that helps explain why WB allowed this movie to be so cynical.

[@BigFatCone]

The Scooby flick was pegged to be NC17.

[@apersonlikeanyother6895]

I don’t believe the critics didn’t understand it. More likely they panned it because the were paid by the advertisers it satirized.

[@KhayJayArt]

Or they didn't bother to analyze it because its a girly girl movie and most dudes don't take girl movies seriously enough to critically think about it.

[@apersonlikeanyother6895]

@@KhayJayArt I think you’re right. I was a bit too cynical that day. I loved it. I actually didn’t find it a girly film at all. But maybe just because most of the main characters were women was enough to not take it seriously. Fun fact. This movie was the reason my daughter learnt the guitar.

[@kaijuguy19]

Seeing this movie for myself recently it's really easy to see what they were aiming for and it's a shame that many people at the time didn't get it. Thankfully from the looks of it it's seems to be being viewed better and more appreciated for it's effort. Better late then never after all. 😊

[@anthonyphung8700]

it's funny how you included the KZbin subscribe logo and the Patreon logo in some parts, subliminally advertising yourself! XD

[@Comrade_Jason]

How did people not get the satire? I was 12 or 13 when I watched this and I completely understood it.

[@speeddemon0117]

It was like a comic music version of They Live.

[@ssaint565]

I remember seeing thus in the theater. Only about 20 people there and I was the ONLY person laughing. So clever.

[@KaylaElizabeth_h]

this movie and soundtrack is a utter early 2000s classic...and i stand by that

[@KaylaElizabeth_h]

also i had no idea this movie flopped. I can't believe grown adults didn't understand the point of the movie, when i understood what they were doing when i was 12/13 (i didn't understand Backdoor lover though)

[@leapittmon8626]

I've been looking for a new video essayist! This was pretty good!

[@marasilva3349]

Você Edaode

[@marasilva3349]

Treasedzeityuepadezfseroanfxn Oretasezcaeotupasederquekopasezcdetrojf de mais boaserzdeaueomwgv de uelaxaoa da kavvdaoabdaotnzd9wbd magrelas de gerasezceovecrelsdsinsc Bscbshfssreik obsessiva abençoe vocês sempre e ti guarda e ti livra de todos mal e vc hã a í hiwerfLzzgskfsgoersacresacfso SAERcedoroenweih e vc não li que Deus abençoe vocês sempre está do meu lado

[@marasilva3349]

Oii

[@AtomicMama42]

This movie was a straight up callout to the entire movie and music industry.

[@Chelseajustwatches]

I am so glad I stumbled upon this by accident! I have always loved this movie, and still believe its narrative holds immense relevance today. Not to mention it was a big influence in my decision, as a little girl, to start playing the drums. Really awesome video essay!

[@ZAIAEnterpriseAmerica]

Adding in those Patreon and Subscribe icons was a really clever touch

[@WeeLin]

I watched this on DVD a few years after it came out. I loved it, especially the goofy humour and the soundtrack (which I still own). I then showed it to my boyfriend who hated the movie and told me I was stupid for liking it. Years later, I was still ashamed to talk about the film as anything but a guilty pleasure, but if anyone else brought it up first and said they liked it I'd be thrilled to bits and talk enthusiastically for ages. I still love Josie and the Pussycats, and I've dug out my old DVD copy to watch again for the first time in years. Thanks for the validation and reminding me of a film that gave me a lot of joy.

[@rphuntarchive1]

"Buffy meets Chicken Run"

[@Driver8takeabreak]

Baffling that so many critics didn't recognize it as satire. I figured it out instantly when I first saw it.

[@EnbyGaemer2005]

"Blank is the new blank" is always in my head from this movie. I work at a library and the other day I was like "Freida McFadden is the new Colleen Hoover" because of how the popular books were trending. Also how can so many critics miss the point of the product placement? The McDonald's hotel room was so over the top it was obvious to 14 year old me that it was satire.

[@cherem1]

I was 31 when I watched this with my wife and we loved the satire and obvious humor. This was the time period when I started noticing the critics poor choices in movies to accept or reject (never going to forgive Siskel and Ebert for their review of the Farelly Brothers Kingpen. They said it was the best comedy of that year and it sucked!) I don't think they understood the 4th wall breaks and meta aspect of the story. From my experience, if they cannot quantify or categorize a movie easily, then they reject it wholesale.

[@aletskun3877]

Those Spache Channel 5 posters in a movie are the most 2000's thing I've seen period

[@itzy4thgenerationleaders]

I love this and The Brady Bunch movies. Fabulous, fun satire.

[@AJ-xc4qe]

I had a great idea that The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina crossed over with Sitcom Sabrina designating that show in another universe. Even better is that Sitcom Sabrina also shares the same world as this movie and To Riverdale and Back, which would explain why the characters of both movies haven't appeared on the sitcom. It'd be like Crisis on Infinite Archies!

[@theflash8516]

Lol 😂 I love it.

[@mowybwianne]

i was 3 when this movie came out, and it was one of my favorite movies ever. Finally found it on HBO max and got to rewatch it all these years later and I love it even more than I did as a kid but even as a 3 year old I loved it? idk man this movie is just a national treasure and looking back... Tara Reid was totally my first girl crush... possibly just my first crush tbh

[@Monelfilms]

Josie and The Pussycats reminds me the films of Frank Tashlin who were also satires misunderstood from the people of their times (mid 50's). the guy was an animator and a director at Warner.Bros animation during the golden age working with Tex Avery, Chuck Jones and Bob Clampett. He moved into live action comedy who was litteraly live cartoons. I don't know if Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont were inspired by films like The Girl Can't Help It or Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter ? but for me Josie And The Pussycats got the spirit of a Tashlin movie. It reminds me also the first Scooby Doo movie on the fact that it's an Hanna-Barbera adaptation and who also had the ambition to be a satire who unfortunately were stopped by the studio. Check this video from Ryan Hollinger kzbin.info/www/bejne/nl7Knat4YrqLmpI who is pretty close from yours. Your video is great by the way ! :D

[@miaferrari958]

I'm not done watching the video yet, but let's just say it: it was hated because it was aimed at teenage girls.

[@Pewpewpew182]

2001 ..... great films at that time Josie, Kiss of the Dragon, American Pie 2, Hardball (I cried like a baby) Zoolander, Jay and Silent Bob Strike back, Fast and the Furious, the Others, Jeepers Creepers and many other films.... good times. Good review

[@lacialysia6913]

When I saw this I got the jokes as a kid and as an adult. How could you not?

[@toddhollen]

This is a really underrated movie. My biggest problem with it was always that I thought the satire was way too obvious and that a better director could have given it a little more subtilty and depth ( Lord and Miller always come to mine with 21 Jump Street and The Lego Movie), but I never realized that a lot of people didn't like it because they completely missed the satire! That's crazy! Though after this video I also have more appreciation for what the directors were doing and why it was so on the nose. Also this killing Rachael Leigh Cook's career is crazy to me. Even if you don't like this movie how could you look at her and think she was the problem. The entire cast is great but especially Cook, Reid, and Posey.

[@bobbyreports]

one of my all-time favs. When I was a kid I watched this movie all the time and saw it in theaters when it came out... golden times...

[@ZenKimchi]

Thank you for finally saying this. I loved this movie since it first came out on DVD and got the satire right away.

[@MrThomas564]

I actually like the movie. Yeah, it was wacky. It is still one my favorites.

[@BReNĐN-c6n]

I have bought it three times. Local DVD , then two imported USA releases (pg friendly full frame version and pg13 widescreen )

[@CosmicDoorknob]

I'm proud to think I'm smart enough to understand the satire that this movie represents. This movie is one of the most ingenious cinematic features that most people don't understand.

[@meeduoh]

I was just 13 when I first watched that movie and yet the satirical elements were still super evident. What are these critics smoking?

[@rphuntarchive1]

OMG I need the OST on vinyl.

[@arnesahlen2704]

In your intro: VERY clever - in fact, brilliant - 'Dr. Strangelove' tagline twist!

[@michaelsteele4587]

I was 19 when this movie came out and had just moved out on my own into a house with a handful of roommates. We lacked cable and it was long before streaming services therefore we relied on VHS & DVS...this movie was one of a few that we watched numerous times.

[@chiptankgirl]

Thank you so much for saying this. I really love this movie and it makes me happy that more people are recognizing how clever it really is.

[@rtifishul]

i was ten years old when this came out, my sister and I loved it, and the soundtrack. I didn't know what satire was then, but I could tell that the movie was making a point against consumerism. Everything the movie wanted to criticize was delivered via the cartoon-y Moviefone voice, and it makes me think there's NO WAY the critics missed that, unless they were acting in bad faith, which seems plausible after watching this great video essay.

[@katwebbxo]

I was 10 too and I agree. There's no reason for critics to not pick up on the satire if actual children still got the idea lol.

[@empac8631]

I hate that this movie never got the praise it deserved at the time. It was very ahead of it’s time. The script is cohesive, and it’s clever and funny. The acting is decent. The soundtrack is KILLER. I loved it when I first saw it at like 12 and it has remained in my top 20 movies, especially to cheer me up. No one ever gives it a shot and I agree that the marketing was just so off for the kinda of hidden gem it is

[@ryansmith4494]

I was 13 when I watched this movie and understood the obvious satire. I’m not sure how most people didn’t understand the obvious message.

[@AngelCruz-cj2lc]

18 years later I still remember all the words in this movie 😂

[@bradeng7158]

Hey. This is a very good review. Perhaps the best explanation of satire I've seen on KZbin.

[@GarudaMan9]

No mention of superstar music producer Babyface producing the soundtrack, also being a co-writer, and producing the film with his then-wife?

[@drunkbiscuit]

I was 13 when this amazing movie came out and got the idea of its premise. How could these critics not?! Insane. Still listen to the soundtrack and post about it. It was definitely ahead of its time.

[@duanesunset2339]

I don't know what you paid to have this populate in my feed but I'm grateful. I saw Josie and the Pussy Cats the weekend after I graduated basic training. Needless to say, it was one of the most surreal experiences of my life and because of that, this movie is burned into my psyche like a cattle brand. Great review. I request Brain Candy by Kids in the hall next.

[@genera1013]

How did I, as a seven year old in the theater, understand the message of this film better than fully grown adults?

[@EricFeldmann]

my daughter has always and still does love this film

[@JillKnapp]

Adam Schlesinger RIP.

[@TheREALTiPPiDa]

I bet the same critics that shit on Josie and the Pussycats are the same that praise Zoolander.. Smh. DuJour means misunderstood.

[@smokeynewton]

I raised a daughter through the Boy band/Spice Girls era. I understood it completely. It was brilliant.

[@sparklingbluestars]

Great job with this video! My parents bought this movie for me on VHS probably because they thought it was just a dumb teen movie. Little did they know it would become one of my favorite movies of all times, I made them buy me the soundtrack too lol. As I grew older I saw the satire I definitely missed when I was younger, it's still one of my favorite movies, no shame.

[@edgaralvarez5290]

Love this movie! Bro, make more essays!

[@BeatrizBPS]

Its weird that when I was 10 I totally got that it was all a joke, this was my favorite movie cause its was so funny

[@briansanders7590]

Sorry that I'm a Johnny come lately but I glad I'm with people that like this movie. I think this movie was ahead of it's time with meta humor. When I seen this movie in 2001 (yes I paid to see it I'm a younger baby boomer born in 1964) I got all of the jokes and when I seen that the critic savage the movie I was shocked. I kept thinking am I the only one that got the movie. I put this up there with Lisa Kudrow show in early 00 called The Comeback which originally flopped because it was poking fun at has been actors in Reality shows before this became a thing in the late 00 to now.

[@awlomthesheepermen]

i want to see a marxest and feminist film theory review on this so bad like i bet a marx film theorist would have fun with this

[@IndiaHamilton445]

I was 8 when this movie came out and I remember my mom being SO mad we watched it at a sleep over because it was inappropriate. I absolutely loved it (even though most of it went over my head) and the soundtrack because a road trip staple.

[@jddiggy2343]

Yes boys and girls Josie and the pussycats movie was subversive before being subversive was Cool

[@NiGHTSaturn]

And this, is why I absolutely love this movie. I found it hilarious as a teen, and I look at the work they did as an adult. Loving the music, the performances, the one liners... Plus it’s cool to see Sega/Dreamcast/Space Channel 5/Sonic references during the last year they were in the console business. I learned to be careful what I was about to sign for when my album is ready.

[@AtomicMama42]

When you realize Du Jour is basically everyone responsible for Robot Chicken

[@QueenStewds]

I just watched this movie like last week and holy shit this movie slaps.

[@KatiiFirecat]

As a kid I absolutely loved this movie and understood everything even the nirvana references and mature jokes but I JUST NOW realized this wasn't a movie for tweens? Omg

[@somethingstupidz]

this was uploaded on my birthday, this is one of my favorite movies