History Film / JosieAndThePussyCats

* LiveActionAdaptation

* VehicularKidnapping: After discovering a cynical girl in the record store that seems immune to MegaRecords' brainwashing, Wyatt none too subtly intones "[[Music/{{Nirvana}} Smells like]] [[WaxingLyrical teen spirit]]" into his jacket sleeve. Moments later, an overhead door flies open, the cynical girl gets grabbed by nameless mooks and tossed into a waiting van, and is then driven away. She's [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse never seen or heard from again]] in the film.

* BeautifulAllAlong: Inverted. [[spoiler:The divaish record executve Fiona turns out to be Lisa Snyder, a nerdy girl with buck teeth who speaks with a lisp, and tries to put subliminal messages into her label's music to get everybody to like her. Meanwhile, Wyatt Frame, the suave Brit, turns out to be "White-Ass Wally," an albino American with a beer gut -- and one of Fiona/Lisa's former classmates. They cover up their looks using makeup, veneers and fake accents.]]

* SheFu: Melodie surprises everybody during the climactic fight scene.
* [[HeKnowsTooMuch She Knows Too Much]]

* SubliminalAdvertising: The record company is putting subliminal messages into music in order to sell consumer products. The movie itself does this with one scene, where the words "''Josie and the Pussycats'' [[ShamelessSelfPromoter is the best movie ever]]!" are quickly flashed up on the screen and read out by Mr. Moviefone, with the words "Join the Army" in smaller print below. That example is really more superliminal rather than subliminal. But for a true example, in the scene where Fiona explains [[EvilPlan the goal]] of [=MegaRecords=], the message "''Film/CantHardlyWait'' is under-rated" scrolls by on the wall in the background. Both this film and ''Can't Hardly Wait'' were written and directed by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont. Creator/RogerEbert took the film to task for calling the hidden messages "subliminal" when they are in fact subaural.

* TokenRomance: Alan M and Josie really do seem tacked onto the movie as an afterthought.

* VehicularKidnapping: After discovering a cynical girl in the record store that seems immune to Mega Records' brainwashing, Wyatt none too subtly intones "[[Music/{{Nirvana}} Smells like]] [[ProductPlacement teen spirit]]" into his jacket sleeve. Moments later, an overhead door flies open, the cynical girl gets grabbed by nameless mooks and tossed into a waiting van, and is then driven away. She's [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse never seen or heard from again]] in the film.
* WaxingLyrical: Wyatt's codephrases are lines from famous songs:

There was a ''huge'' legal brawl with Creator/ArchieComics over them getting residuals and/or royalties from the movie. In the end, the film was a BoxOfficeBomb, and its failure [[StarDerailingRole did lasting damage]] to Rachael Leigh Cook's film career[[note]](she's been relegated to DirectToVideo and {{Made For TV Movie}}s ever since, including voicing [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Tifa]] in ''Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren'')[[/note]]. In spite of all this, it has become something of a cult hit on VHS and DVD.

* SubliminalAdvertising: The record company is putting subliminal messages into music in order to sell consumer products. The movie itself does this with one scene, where the words "''Josie and the Pussycats'' [[ShamelessSelfPromoter is the best movie ever]]!" are quickly flashed up on the screen and read out by Mr. Moviefone, with the words "Join the Army" in smaller print below. That example is really more superliminal. But for a true example, in the scene where Fiona explains [[EvilPlan the goal]] of [=MegaRecords=], the message "''Film/CantHardlyWait'' is under-rated" scrolls by on the wall in the background. Both this film and ''Can't Hardly Wait'' were written and directed by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont. Creator/RogerEbert took the film to task for calling the hidden messages "subliminal" when they are in fact subaural.

* AmbiguouslyGay: DuJour's "Backdoor Lover" song.

* BigDamnHeroes: [[spoiler:Dujour, previously thought to be dead in a plane crash]], at the end.
* BoyBand: Dujour is a parody of boy bands.

* ConcertKiss

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: Dujour's hit single, "Backdoor Lover".

* EvilLaugh

* ForTheEvulz: For no apparent reason, Wyatt seems to be deliberately degrading and trivializing Valerie from the very start; he leaves her on the side of the street when their car starts, delivers only two invitations to the party instead of three, etc. There seems to be no actual ''goal'' here, since he is not trying to force her out of the band or split up the friendship (at least, not until later, when [[HeKnowsTooMuch she starts asking questions]]). It really seems like he is torturing her [[ForTheEvulz just to see her squirm]]. On the DVD commentary, they say it's because [[NobodyLovesTheBassist she's the bass player]]. In addition, he's trying to force the Pussycats into ''his'' vision of the band (Josie as the FaceOfTheBand, with Valerie and Melody as backup). The reason he isn't grinding down Mel too is because she's [[TheDitz obviously going to be far less trouble]]. On a more sinister level, he might even be deliberately laying future seeds of conflict to keep the Pussycats too distracted with infighting to stumble across the truth like Dujour did.

* MassHypnosis

* NotQuiteDead: [[spoiler:Dujour. They managed to safely land the plane after Wyatt and the pilot jumped out and left them for dead... only they landed it in the parking lot of a Music/{{Metallica}} [[OhCrap concert]].]]

* RockTrio

* StealthParody

* TakeOurWordForIt: We never actually ''see'' [[spoiler:Dujour getting their asses kicked at the Metallica concert]], but judging by the full-body casts that most of them are wearing (except for the guy who knew the words to "Enter Sandman" -- and even he's pretty messed up), we can only guess what happened.

There was a ''huge'' legal brawl with Franchise/ArchieComics over them getting residuals and/or royalties from the movie. The film was a box office failure, and its lack of success [[StarDerailingRole did lasting damage]] to Rachael Leigh Cook's film career (as of 2010 she has yet to play the lead role in another major film; keep in mind that this is the same Rachael Leigh Cook who voiced [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Tifa]]), but it has become something of a cult hit on VHS and DVD.

* HoYay: DuJour and their "Backdoor Lover" song.

[[quoteright:304:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Josie_and_the_Pussycats_film_poster.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:304:''[[TitleThemeTune "...long tails and ears for hats..."]]'']]

'''''Josie and the Pussycats''''' is a 2001 film adapted from [[Comicbook/JosieAndThePussycats the comic of the same name]], starring Creator/RachaelLeighCook, Creator/RosarioDawson and Tara Reid. It is about the titular all-female rock band getting the deal of a lifetime after struggling as an indie band -- a record deal with [=MegaRecords=], one of the largest music labels in the world.

There was a ''huge'' legal brawl with ArchieComics over them getting residuals and/or royalties from the movie. The film was a box office failure, and its lack of success [[StarDerailingRole did lasting damage]] to Rachael Leigh Cook's film career (as of 2010 she has yet to play the lead role in another major film; keep in mind that this is the same Rachael Leigh Cook who voiced [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Tifa]]), but it has become something of a cult hit on VHS and DVD.

* AsHimself: Creator/{{MTV}} VJ Carson Daly makes a brief appearance where he tries to kill Melody and Valerie on a fake ''TRL'' set. The scene becomes funnier if you know that, at the time the film was made, [[RealitySubtext Carson was dating Tara Reid]]. [[AmericanPie Eugene Levy]] also hosts the instructional video describing why SubliminalAdvertising is so important to the economy, and MTV News anchor Serena Altschul makes an appearance.

* ForTheEvulz: For no apparent reason, Wyatt seems to be deliberately degrading and trivializing Valerie from the very start; he leaves her on the side of the street when their car starts, delivers only two invitations to the party instead of three, etc. There seems to be no actual ''goal'' here, since he is not trying to force her out of the band or split up the friendship (at least, not until later, when [[HeKnowsTooMuch she starts asking questions]]). It really seems like he is torturing her [[ForTheEvulz just to see her squirm]].
** On the DVD commentary, they say it's because [[NobodyLovesTheBassist she's the bass player]].
** In addition, he's trying to force the Pussycats into ''his'' vision of the band (Josie as the FaceOfTheBand, with Valerie and Melody as backup). The reason he isn't grinding down Mel too is because she's [[TheDitz obviously going to be far less trouble]]. On a more sinister level, he might even be deliberately laying future seeds of conflict to keep the Pussycats too distracted with infighting to stumble across the truth like Dujour did.

** "Backdoor Lover" is a rare example of a triple entendre. The song could just be about sneaking into your house at night for some nookie without your parents noticing, but it gets worse. A backdoor man is a term for someone who is conducting a surreptitious affair with someone who is already in an established relationship, and the song does indeed mention right at the start that the love is wrong, giving credence to this meaning as well. Worse, however, "backdoor lover" has quite another meaning as well, and the song mentions running hands over cheeks, lying on the bed looking up at the "moon", and of course "coming" in through the back door and from behind. And naturally, [[AmbiguouslyGay the song never actually gives any indication that the lover they're singing to is, in fact, female, and makes frequent references to their love being forbidden or seen as a sin.]]
*** In fact, the full version of the song features the following line: "Most people use the front door/But that's never been my way/Just 'cause I slip in through the back/That doesn't make me...hey!"

-->'''Alex:''' "What?"
-->'''Alexandra:''' "Nothing."

** [[spoiler:Wyatt]] and [[spoiler:Fiona]] both attended "Huntington High School", the same school from the filmmakers' [[Film/CantHardlyWait previous movie]].

* SubliminalAdvertising: The record company is putting subliminal messages into music in order to sell consumer products. The movie itself does this with one scene, where the words "''Josie and the Pussycats'' [[ShamelessSelfPromoter is the best movie ever]]!" are quickly flashed up on the screen and read out by Mr. Moviefone, with the words "Join the Army" in smaller print below.
** That example is really more superliminal. But for a true example, in the scene where Fiona explains [[EvilPlan the goal]] of [=MegaRecords=], the message "''Film/CantHardlyWait'' is under-rated" scrolls by on the wall in the background. Both this film and ''Can't Hardly Wait'' were written and directed by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont.
** Creator/RogerEbert took the film to task for calling the hidden messages "subliminal" when they are in fact subaural.

-->'''Melody:''' "I want a Big Mac!"
-->'''Valerie:''' "But, Mel, you're a vegetarian."
-->'''Melody:''' "I know, but suddenly I want one!"

* CompletelyMissingThePoint: Many film critics complained about the ProductPlacement, clearly missing that they were intended as a ''parody'' of intrusive product placement in films. Without the product placement, the film wouldn't have anything to back up its consumerism plot.
** The critics are justified on one point, though, as it's hard to parody product placement without the brands still getting more or less what they want (name recognition, etc.)

* CompletelyMissingThePoint: Many film critics complained about the ProductPlacement, clearly missing that they were intended as a ''parody'' of intrusive product placement in films. Without the product placement, the film wouldn't have anything to back up its consumerism plot.
** The critics are justified on one point, though, as it's hard to parody product placement without the brands still getting more or less what they want (name recognition, etc.)
* CoolLoser: The Pussycats at the beginning of the film. Yes, that's right. Rachael Leigh Cook, Creator/RosarioDawson and (pre-trainwreck) Tara Reid are presented as ''unpopular''. Gotta love Hollywood.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Fiona.
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Melody unexpectedly turns out to be an amazing martial artist.

** To ''[[RomyAndMichelesHighSchoolReunion Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion]]'', which also starred Creator/AlanCumming.

** RogerEbert took the film to task for calling the hidden messages "subliminal" when they are in fact subaural.

* TheCuckoolanderWasRight: After Josie asks the others they think Wyatt's offer of a record deal is a "little off", Melody, apparently accurately, noted the way he folded his ''napkin'' as an indicator of how lonely he his.

* EvilIsPetty: All of the conspiracy, million of dollars of technology, and nearly getting the girls killed, and the endgame plan... [[spoiler:is to get people to think how cool Fiona is.]] Just..wow.

* HotterAndSexier: Their outfits are just a tad hotter than one piece swimsuits and leopard tights.
* LargeHam: Creator/ParkerPosey and Creator/AlanCumming are practically ''dueling'' for this title - explicitly so in the scene where they ''duel'' evil laughs.

* ForTheEvulz: For no apparent reason, Wyatt seems to be deliberately degrading and trivializing Valerie from the very start; he leaves her on the side of the street when their car starts, delivers only two invitations to the party instead of three, etc. There seems to be no actual ''goal'' here, since he is not trying to force her out of the band or split up the friendship (at least, not until later, when [[HeKnowsTooMuch she starts asking questions]]). It really seems like he is torturing her [[ForTheEvulz just to see her squirm]]. The added fact that she is [[TokenMinority the black one]] gives [[UnfortunateImplications another unpleasant layer to the situation]].

''Josie and the Pussycats'' is a 2001 film adapted from [[Comicbook/JosieAndThePussycats the comic of the same name]], starring Creator/RachaelLeighCook, Creator/RosarioDawson and Tara Reid. It is about the titular all-female rock band getting the deal of a lifetime after struggling as an indie band -- a record deal with [=MegaRecords=], one of the largest music labels in the world. Within a week, the band has skyrocketed to the top of the charts, and a legion of {{squee}}ing fans is following their every move. Unfortunately, there was some fine print in the contract that they should've read before they signed... you know, some stuff about having [[SubliminalAdvertising subliminal messages]] put in your music to sell stuff, and "dying tragically" in a plane crash or from an overdose if you [[HeKnowsTooMuch find out]] and resist. That sort of thing.

''Josie and the Pussycats'' is a 2001 film adapted from [[JosieAndThePussycats the comic of the same name]], starring Creator/RachaelLeighCook, Creator/RosarioDawson and Tara Reid. It is about the titular all-female rock band getting the deal of a lifetime after struggling as an indie band -- a record deal with [=MegaRecords=], one of the largest music labels in the world. Within a week, the band has skyrocketed to the top of the charts, and a legion of {{squee}}ing fans is following their every move. Unfortunately, there was some fine print in the contract that they should've read before they signed... you know, some stuff about having [[SubliminalAdvertising subliminal messages]] put in your music to sell stuff, and "dying tragically" in a plane crash or from an overdose if you [[HeKnowsTooMuch find out]] and resist. That sort of thing.