DO LICORICE AND PIZZA GO TOGETHER?

 This review was originally posted to Letterboxd on January 3, 2022.

A comfy, chill film. They get the 1970s perfectly, and you feel transported back to that era for the full run time. Bradley Cooper steals his 3-4 scenes as an unhinged Jon Peters (a rich film producer). Paul Thomas Anderson directs the shit out of the film (he's on his A game here), and the cinematography by Paul Thomas Anderson and Michael Bauman is delightful and often impressive. The soundtrack is tops as well. 

The stars of the show are Cooper Hoffman (son of the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman) as Gary Valentine and Alana Haim ( of the band HAIM, her family appear as supporting characters as well) as Alana Kane. Gary is a 15 year old child actor and "entrepreneur" (aka a hustler, making money off the latest trends). Alana is a woman in her 20s (The film throws the ages 25 and 28 at us, but we are never given her true age) who is working an unfulfilling job as an assistant for companies that do school photos. 

This is how Gary and Alana meet. Unlikely as it may be, there are sparks almost immediately. They wind up working together on one of Gary's schemes selling water beds (the first of several schemes). The film proper follows our two unlikely "friends" as they go on several adventures over the course of one summer.

Licorice Pizza's central relationship is challenging, unconventional, and a bit ick. Gary and Alana are more than friends but less than lovers. They are both asked multiple times what exactly they are and neither can put a name to it. Hoffman and Haim have a natural chemistry, and work off of each other well. 

This counts as Hoffman's and Haim's first film roles, and it's a rare treat to watch two new stars be born in front of you. The characters of Gary and Alana are very likable, though they make questionable decisions throughout and are full of flaws and insecurities. Alana has a clear, desperate ache to be famous/cool, and despite affecting a too-cool-for-school attitude, she continually seeks approval from males (most of whom are older and view her as an object). 

Gary is the one guy in Alana's life who comes closest to seeing her as a person (not to mention he tries not to overstep boundaries with her). That said, Gary is a bit of a lothario as he is seen courting multiple girls closer to his age (Which Alana gets visibly jealous over).  It's enjoyable to watch these two, however it's not exactly easy to root for them to wind up together (The age gap is quite significant, not to mention he's under-age). 

Not much really happens in the movie, as Licorice Pizza has a very relaxed, loose vibe. There isn't much plot, but the proceedings are usually entertaining and a good deal of the film is very funny. This is Paul Thomas Anderson back in Boogie Nights form, and Licorice Pizza definitely reminds of the former as well as of Dazed and Confused. Despite a questionable romance at it's core, Licorice Pizza is a ton of fun and a great time at the theater.

5 STARS