Rent Licorice Pizza (2021)

Don't like licorice but love pizzas. This could be the film for you either way. - Licorice Pizza review by Strovey

The western world as we call it and in particular the USA and the UK are currently in the middle of a mawkish, naval gazing, nostalgia-fest. It is therefore completely understandable that art and in particular storytellers on the screen, both big and small, reflect this.

This time we step back into the seventies with distinctive and talented director Paul Thomas Anderson much in the same vein as Tarantino but without the dark and unpleasant streak that runs through his work. Anderson here has a lighter touch with a sense of fun and verve that only comes with the young who are not really sure about themselves or their direction in life.

Apparently drawing on the real-life stories of producer and sometime actor Gary Goetzman it is immediately striking that in general Anderson’s two main protagonists Gary and Alana are more confident and purposeful than many young lover types in this genre of films. It makes a refreshing change as, the spookily like his dad the much-missed Philip Seymour Hoffman, Cooper Hoffman, takes to the role convincingly in his big screen debut. Cheeky, full of confidence, and some swagger, this type of young character could be tremendously annoying in the wrong hands, in writing, directing and acting, but to everyone’s credit he is as likable as he is daft. No one is frightened of showing his jealousy and anger, not great characteristics in anyone, but to my mind, it balances him out as a normal if a little pushy human being.

Likewise, Alana, played by Alana Haim, apparently, a successful pop musician with her sisters is sketched out as a confident strong young woman who still shows weaknesses in her character by having her head turned by smarmy actors or getting unreasonably jealous of someone who ‘isn’t her boyfriend’ but this never diminishes her character. You feel, or indeed know, by the film's conclusion she will be okay.

Populate your film with accomplished actors in cameos, such as standouts Sean Penn as Jack ‘not William’ Holden and Tom Waits as Rex ‘not John Huston’ Blau and you have typical PTA fare.

The seventies are recreated in both the presentation and the looks in set design and clothing, as someone from that ear, albeit in the UK I admit, I would say that the folk involved in this should take a bow. Never once did I think – this is them pretending, it was the 1970s for me.

I never read other people’s reviews of films I have just watched until I have at least watched the film, and often after I have written my piece, but in this case, I did read some almost immediately after viewing. Why? Because I just knew most people would say ‘it doesn’t do anything’ or ‘there’s no story’ and on the whole I was completely correct.

For me that is the entire point, it is the film’s strong point. No one in this film, looks or behaves like an actor playing a role, looks perfect or has great hair, except the people playing film stars. To me the whole Rom Com conceit is laid low here, it is never easy or even fully clear cut and there is no story, just hundreds of little ones that add up and make your life. You can stop anywhere you want, your viewing stops, and the story goes on. Perfect for me.

The age difference between Hoffman’s and Hiam’s characters could be problematical if you are looking for something to really pick at, he being fifteen and Alana 25 and if it were reversed, a 15-year-old girl and a 25-year-old man – yikes, but Alana does question it, try to change and move away and at no point is it creepy. My wife is 12 years older than me but it has to be said we did not meet when I was at school.

Overall Licorice Pizza is a slice out of two people’s lives in their formative years. Neither cynical nor lyrical it sits in just the right place for me. I can see why some would baulk at the ‘romance’ between the two characters and the lack of narrative drive but the overall film pushes these concerns to the back for me.

It is entertaining fun.

Unconvincing - Licorice Pizza review by NM

Forget the hype surrounding this film - it is a bit like watching a below par football match that ends 0-0. The problem is credibility. The film is based on an unlikely romance between a 15 year old school kid and a woman in her mid-twenties. We are expected to believe that the school kid is not only a well known child actor, but capable of creating two working businesses, apparently without any parental help. To top it off the 15 year old is played by a large, unattractive 18 year old, Cooper Hoffman, who looks the same age as his co-star. One can only wonder why the story had to be about a 15 year old and why Hoffman was chosen (maybe because his dad was Phillip Seymour-Hoffman).

We only survived 10 minutes - Licorice Pizza review by Pete

If you like watching ghastly precocious all-American teenagers this may be for you. Otherwise avoid, like we did after 10 minutes.

A Different Romance Film - Worth Trying - Licorice Pizza review by GI

This is a whimsical romance set in the early 70s and is joyously nostalgic as well as offering some surprises. I hesitate to call it a 'coming-of-age' story although that is the first impression and it's more of a slow build love story that just happens to be about that all consuming first love. There's loads to admire here and the film is wonderfully humorous and littered with bizarre and interesting side characters. It centres on the relationship of Gary (Cooper Hoffman), a 15 year old child actor and Alana (Alana Haim), a cynical 25 year old Jewish girl, who is intrigued when Gary hits on her declaring to his brother that she is the girl he will one day marry. The film charts the heartaches of their relationship as Alana flirts around and Gary attempts to become an entrepreneur, firstly by selling waterbeds to the rich and famous and then running a pinball arcade. Director Paul Thomas Anderson keeps all this weirdness completely grounded with the result that it comes over as so believable and warm. Sean Penn cameos as an aging lothario actor, based on William Holden, and Bradley Cooper is hilarious as the slightly unhinged film producer Jon Peters. But it's the two leads who really nail this, they are natural and first class throughout and both look set for big futures. I enjoyed Licorice Pizza, its different, somewhat unusual but strangely affecting.  

Steer clear, 2 hours you’ll never get back. - Licorice Pizza review by AR

I don’t write a lot of reviews but I really don’t want anyone else to have to sit through this mess of a film. The protagonists are thoroughly unlikeable to the extent that I couldn’t care less what happened to them by the end and their relationship stretches credulity to breaking point. The uncomfortable age-gap is largely ignored and neither actor is good enough to portray their characters at the age they’re supposed to be so they appear of a similar age. And Lord alone knows why Anderson felt casual racism was acceptable. 

The plot, such as it is, is utterly incoherent and becomes increasingly ridiculous apparently in order to shoehorn in some pointless and absurd cameos. And on top of all that, the film is just plain boring. I don’t know why I keep subjecting myself to Anderson’s work because he hasn’t made a decent film since Magnolia. 

Ignore the positive reviews which I genuinely don’t understand and give this a wide berth.  

A very warm, fuzzy & funny coming of age love story, although it does lose its way towards the end - Licorice Pizza review by TB

PT Anderson's latest film is a throwback to his favoured stomping ground, the American San Fernando Valley where he grew up. This is a very big change from his last film, the upright and stiff period piece Phantom Thread.

But this time, rather than the multiple plot threads of Magnolia, this focuses on one couple and their adventures falling in and out of love.

Cooper Hoffman is a really good lead, and it is all the more impressive that this was also his first film. There are many elements of his late father Phillip's talent on show, plus the chemistry he has with Alana Haim is wonderful. The list of supporting characters is also great.

I do have to be honest though and say that, as much as I enjoyed it, there were some plot lines and characters that I didn't get. Sean Penn's appearance as a composite of famous actor William Holden was lost of me, as was Bradley Cooper as Jon Peters. But it didn't matter, as watching them interact with each other was enjoyable.

However the film does start to run out of steam towards the end, as well as taking the characters off in different directions for a while which then slows down the film. But these are not major issues as it does start to pick up speed again towards the end.

The look and feel of the film, as well as the music choices are exceptional, as you would expect from PT Anderson.

Pop this on and have a great trip down memory lane (if you remember that far back,) or for those who don't, a sweet story set in a long hot summer

Oh dear! - Licorice Pizza review by BW

This is the first dvd I have given up on. Dull, pretentious and irritating. I found it impossible to engage with the characters and after half an hour gave up. I really couldn’t care less about a precocious 15 year old brat and the capricious object of his adolescent desire.