Valley Girl (1983)

It is really hard to decipher the veritable Raison d'Etre of 'Valley Girl' as despite having an important role by Nicholas Cage, it was neither a mainstream Hollywood film with big stars nor was it a product of quirky American independent cinema movement. By choosing to film a difficult love story whose characters took their own time to test the strength of their tender yet whimsical relationship, director Martha Coolidge was able to portray all the essential questions surrounding the 'angst' of class differences which were not so evident in other American films of the time. She succeeded in creating an honest film about confused youngsters especially girls who would try to influence opinions of others around them. It is not a surprise that 'Valley Girl' has entered numerous English language dictionaries as an expression but as a film it advocated good times for young people as their parents were not putting any pressure on them. It is nice to watch how deftly a young Nicholas Cage portrayed the pain of a young boy in love. The major force of "Valley Girl" lies in the fact that it was an effective tool to show how other people's behavior was influential in governing the behavior of their friends. It was this negative quality which prevented them from accepting a 'different' person.

To quote and slightly alter a song from Rancid: "Little Randy was a punk rocker. You know his girlfriend never understood him." What do you do when the perfect guy is from the wrong side of the tracks and doesn't talk or act like your friends? What a dilemma! This has a classic 80's plot, struggles, amount of nudity, and resolution. Watch this if you know what you're getting into and you'll enjoy it immensely. There is plenty wrong with this movie, but don't watch it with a critical eye, rather a nostalgic opportunity to see Nicolas Cage before he had his teeth worked on, an early Elizabeth Daily, and a young 'Buck' from Kill Bill. Rating 24/40

Happy 25th Birthday to Valley Girl! Great soundtrack, plausible story, wonderful performances...captures the spirit of the 80's; the slang of the mainstreams and the outcasts. A wonderful rendition of high school life and "gritty downtown" from a suburban perspective.The soundtrack contains songs by Modern English, Felony, Josie Cotton, Sparks, Payola$, Josie Cotton, The Plimsouls, The Psychedelic Furs, Men At Work, The Flirts and Bananarama.This movie truly is Romeo and Juliet (minus the double suicide) set in 1980's Los Angeles. Julie's dad, played by Frederic Forrest (Sonny Bono, anyone?) is hysterical as a hippie idealistic dad who wonders how he sprung such a materialistic offspring. Yet, he doesn't judge, ya dig??

I remember seeing this movie back when it was released and I still remember the 'buzz' I felt when I left the cinema. Everything about this movie is magnificent! The music is top notch and I still play the soundtrack after all these years.I have seen this movie so many times and yet I still get yearnings to watch it again and again. Nicholas Cage was great and whenever I see Cameron Dye in anything nowadays, I always associate him with this movie. It is too bad the rest of the cast didn't go on to greater things but maybe that is part of this film's charm.I won't do a film school critique as I am sure all the analysts out there can find fault if they wanted to, but what I will say is that this movie defined my teenage years and still continues to influence my life over 20 years later. The movie 'feels' great and stirs up emotions when you watch it (well...it did for me) and I cannot recommend it highly enough for anybody who has not yet seen it.You either 'get' the movie or you don't! Those of you who 'get it' will be rewarded with a unique movie experience.