Licorice Pizza

I've got one more film review to get out before New Year's. So, let's go.

Paul Thomas Anderson's newest film, Licorice Pizza, takes its name from an extinct record store chain in Southern California. Southern California is where we find young acting pro Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman, son and dead ringer to his late dad, Philip Seymour) in 1973. He meets Alana Kane (Alana Haim) when she works as a photographer's assistant at his picture day. He asks her out - even though he's 15 and she's 25 - and stuff happens.

He decides to be a waterbed entrepreneur. Alana dates and breaks up with one of Gary's costars, then joins Gary in the waterbed business. The energy crisis puts them out of business. But they have one last job with eccentric producer Jon Peters (Bradley Cooper). Gary decides to go into the arcade business. Alana decides to volunteer with Joel Wachs's (Benny Safdie) mayoral campaign. They appear to be on different career paths. But eventually, they realize they're made for each other.

I might've described the whole film already ...

It challenges attention spans with its slow plot and 133-minute runtime. Think of it as a series of episodes chronicling what I guess is the summer of 1973. Gary gets arrested on suspicion of murder and is quickly cleared. Jon Peters threatens Gary and his family if Gary mucks up the waterbed job. He never follows through on that. A few celebrities - some with their names changed - appear throughout the story. Some standouts include Sean Penn as daredevil movie star Jack Holden, Christine Baranski as Lucille Ball Lucy Doolittle, and John C Reilly, whose voice gives him away as Fred Gwynne as Herman Munster. The only thread that matters is Alana and Gary.

It's a great thread as Hoffman and Kane are stellar in their film debut. They're both likable together and apart. He's an amiable kid chasing whatever trend catches his eye. She wants to find a higher calling, but she hasn't outgrown her childish temper ("You're always thinking things, you thinker!" she tells her sister). They have a few arguments over their differing tastes. But they do have a few good moments to bond. Their climactic run for each other takes a hilarious twist. It still ends nicely for them.

There are quite a few standout moments. We have Cooper's memorable performance as the hilariously creepy Jon Peters. A scene where Alana and Holden undertake a motorcycle stunt. There's the aforementioned climactic run for Alana and Gary. Or my personal favorite, when Gary and Alana navigate a gasless truck as it careens across L.A. Editor Andy Jurgensen perfectly keeps the suspense going in these moments, which are highlighted with seventies standards and a Jonny Greenwood score.

Overall, Licorice Pizza is a fine romantic comedy. One is sure to be offended by minor character Jerry putting on an "Asian" accent. Others may be alienated by the age gap romance. But rest assured as the romance is kept nice and chaste. You'll never question why these two are meant to be together. I found this a good film to finish off my really busy movie year. May the next year put me on my regular schedule.