Josie and the Pussycats (2001)

53% of critics liked it
(120 reviews)
44% of users liked it
(70,196 ratings)

Based on the animated hit TV show of the 1970s, Josie and the Pussycats is a live-action tale of a group of young girl rockers who desire to make it big. Josie (Rachael Leigh Cook), Val (Rosario Dawson), and Melody (Tara Reid) make up an aspiring garage band that is discovered by shady megalomaniac… More Based on the animated hit TV show of the 1970s, Josie and the Pussycats is a live-action tale of a group of young girl rockers who desire to make it big. Josie (Rachael Leigh Cook), Val (Rosario Dawson), and Melody (Tara Reid) make up an aspiring garage band that is discovered by shady megalomaniac executive Wyatt Frame (Alan Cumming), the sidekick to MegaRecords boss Fiona (Parker Posey), who runs an industry powerhouse that has been grooming the very successful boy band Du Jour. Unbeknownst to the band, MegaRecords is a company whose real intent is to brainwash young people, with subliminal messages inserted in CDs to assure a healthy sales record. Josie and her crew soon latch on to the real deal behind their new label and are forced to choose between their burgeoning rock-star success and doing what's right for future music lovers. The film also stars Gabriel Mann as Josie's love interest/folk singer Alan M. Its soundtrack features work by Counting Crows' Adam Duritz, the Go-Go's Jane Wiedlin, and Babyface. Rachael Leigh Cook's voice was dubbed by Letters to Cleo's Kay Hanley for the film's musical set pieces. ~ Jason Clark, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Harry Elfont, Deborah Kaplan
Written By: Harry Elfont, Deborah Kaplan
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 11, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Aug 14, 2001
Studio: Universal Pictures

Critic Reviews

Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader
This self-styled self-reflexive comedy asks the question, just how stupid are teenagers?
Joe Leydon, Variety
This is one sharp pussycat.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Their cool-to-be-cruel stance is too hip for the room and a likely turnoff for preteen girls who don't like fluff balls laced with bile.
Jane Dark, Village Voice
When on work release from the Von Trier festival, I like such cheap thrills.
Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today
The concept is so hypocritical, it's like Britney Spears calling Christina Aguilera underdressed and overexposed.
David Edelstein, Slate
It's amazing that writer-directors Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont sustain this in-jokey screwball punk musical satire as long as they do.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Movie rates itself out of an ideal audience.
, Film4
Ranks a 'one' next to Spinal Tap's '11'.
Mark Halverson, Sacramento News & Review
The sour notes are all in a dumbed-down script, canned-ham performances that soon wear thin.
Wally Hammond, Time Out
Aaaaah, what a classic!
, Hollywood.com
Scratch this one off your must-see list.
Dan Jardine, Cinemania
Boasts a self-referential irreverence that gleefully attacks pop culture by using members of pop culture
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
Alan Cumming (who's picked up where Richard E. Grant left off in Spice World) seems to be doing an impression of Stewie, the megalomaniacal baby on Family Guy.
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com
Once again the nostalgia of our youth has been strip-mined for a Hollywood remake . . . At least this one doesn't have any CGI talking-dog monstrosities in it
Harry Guerin, RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland)
About as fresh and fun as week-old kitty litter.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
The best praise I can offer is it could have been worse.
Wesley Lovell, Oscar Guy
Not necessarily the best film, those who remember the original series and have an interest in pop culture humor should find something in Josie to enjoy.
Chris Gore, Film Threat
In the end, the plot is revealed and everything is wrapped up just like an episode of Scooby Doo. But not after the bumbling Tara Reid tortures us with her ditziness.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Josie and the Pussycats moves like one of its songs, fast, sexy, and fun.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Amusing comedy that transcends its all-too-obvious silliness thanks to a trio of sweet performances, some catchy songs and some spot-on gags at the expense of teen culture.

Read all 23 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Spencer S

Even though you except nothing but the worst, this film is actually well written with love to spare.
Dean M

This jerk teen comedy film based upon the Archie Comics in the story is not very entertaining to me. The three Pussycats are, of course, very hot but the dilemma they are placed in is all too cute to be appealing for boys.
Nani V

This is a fun movie.
Jose Z

A totally chick flick. A satirical comedy with a lot of pop culture references, and a good way of mocking the way people buy oreat or drinka product just because its trendy. Although it has some funny moments the story was kinda corny and and a cheesy plot. The cast was good, Rachel… More
A totally chick flick. A satirical comedy with a lot of pop culture references, and a good way of mocking the way people buy oreat or drinka product just because its trendy. Although it has some funny moments the story was kinda corny and and a cheesy plot. The cast was good, Rachel Leigh Cook looking gorgeous and with a decent performance, Tara Reid so pretty but its role wasso cute and corny that she annoys me, Rosario Dawson seems to me that she was uncomfortable and wasn't enjoying her acting, Alan Cumming was great and funny with his role of the geek guy trying to be a cool singers manager aswell as Parker POsey, she was so hilarious, a villiand who was a nerd in her past trying to convince everyone to like her with subliminal messages on music. These two actors make this movie a little worthy wit its pricelessly performances. The music was really good, maybe one of the few good things of the movie. The costume design was ridiculous, I mean there's no way peolpe would dress like that. In conclusion this movie would be enjoyable for a boring sunday afternoon and to watch just once.
Rachel F

Decent enough.
Drew S

Yeah. Who expected ANYTHING good coming from this?
Leigh R

I thought it was cute.
Jason S

Rosario Dawson is in this.
Michael G

The horror... the horror...!
a b

I want to be in Rachel Leigh Cook's band for sure. But not Tara Reid's or Rosario Dawson. I don't like them.
Yinalí R

Love it! Classic.
Curt C

Definitely a lot of fun to watch, but I can't in good consciousness give it a strong recommendation. I enjoyed all the winking at the camera and overacting, and DuJour in particular was absolutely hilarious. The marketing/culture moral is kind of cool, although it's being… More
Definitely a lot of fun to watch, but I can't in good consciousness give it a strong recommendation. I enjoyed all the winking at the camera and overacting, and DuJour in particular was absolutely hilarious. The marketing/culture moral is kind of cool, although it's being dumbed down quite a bit. Also remains mostly faithful to the comic. I think this would easily be a 5-star movie for your average 12-16 year old female.
Patrick D

Call it a guilty pleasure, but I don't feel guilty. This film is actually quite hilarious in parts. Not only that it's well done. Direction is decent, writing is good. The satire, borders on parody but is still clever. Maybe it's a smart social comment hidden in a teen… More
Call it a guilty pleasure, but I don't feel guilty. This film is actually quite hilarious in parts. Not only that it's well done. Direction is decent, writing is good. The satire, borders on parody but is still clever. Maybe it's a smart social comment hidden in a teen chick-flick. Whatever it is, I dig the hell out of it.
Janice :

Don't ask.
Leo L

Funny! Missy Pyle and Paulo Constanzo are hilarious!
Rose G

it's one of those chick flicks that are entertaining to watch...though i think i liked reading the comi strips better..
Anthony V

The boy band jokes are good.
Sean S

So fun and yet so insidiously clever. The movie makes fun of product placement and the way the media tries to control the youth, yet at the same time the movie is obviously costing the producers nothing as it is chock-a-block full of product placement. Beleive it or not Tara Reid… More
So fun and yet so insidiously clever. The movie makes fun of product placement and the way the media tries to control the youth, yet at the same time the movie is obviously costing the producers nothing as it is chock-a-block full of product placement. Beleive it or not Tara Reid manages to steal the best scenes in this one. No really!