This February, put on your cat ears and get ready to rock out with We Really Like Her! co-hosts Emily and Danita at a nostalgia-filled screening of Josie and the Pussycats (2001), co-directed by Deborah Kaplan and Henry Elfont.
Based on the Archie comics and short-lived 1970s cartoon of the same name, Josie and the Pussycats follows three best friends, Josie (Rachael Leigh Cook), Melody (Tara Reid), and Valerie (Rosario Dawson), who make up the titular garage band. When they get signed by the major record label, MegaRecords, they are quickly catapulted into superstardom. Unfortunately, they soon find out that fame and fortune isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, discovering that their music is being used to sell trends to teens through subliminal messaging.
The film also boasts a hilarious supporting cast of late 90s/early 2000s heavy-hitters, specifically Parker Posey as the evil CEO of MegaRecords, Missi Pyle and Paulo Costanzo as the obnoxious brother-sister management team, Alan Cumming as the label’s smarmy promoter, and Seth Green as the lead singer of cheesy boy band, DuJour.
In the same vein as Penelope Spheeris’s classic comedy Wayne’s World, Josie and the Pussycats is satirical and anti-capitalist, boldly criticizing the ulterior motives of the money-driven entertainment industry. With its rad message, catchy pop tunes (fun fact: Canadian queen Bif Naked provided backup vocals!), and celebration of friendship, Josie and the Pussycats will remain a forever fave.