Josie and the Pussycats (2001)

“An antiadvertisement for itself, a subversive piece of work.” — Robert Wilonsky

SYNOPSIS

Widely misunderstood and even reviled upon its initial release, Josie and the Pussycats has since been embraced as a cult classic that disguises a startlingly sharp dystopian satire beneath layers of bubblegum pop, Y2K fashion, and infectious girl-power energy. When an aspiring rock trio is catapulted to overnight fame, they discover that the music industry (and perhaps the government itself) is using subliminal messages hidden in hit songs to manufacture trends, shape consumer behavior, and keep teenagers obediently buying. Directors Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont transform this delirious premise into a candy-colored assault on celebrity culture, corporate branding, and the machinery of mass entertainment, all while delivering one of the funniest studio comedies of its era. Featuring winning performances from Rachael Leigh Cook, Rosario Dawson, and Tara Reid, along with scene-stealing turns from Parker Posey and Alan Cumming, this once-overlooked gem now doubles as the ultimate pre-9/11 Y2K time capsule and a pop satire of unnerving prescience.