Party Girl (1995)

Let's be realistic.

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Boring

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

Mary (Parker Posey) is a 23 year old party girl in NYC. She gets arrested for charging entry fees to her illegal party. She needs to ask her librarian godmother Judy Lindendorf for bail. When she's dismissed as being irresponsible like her mother, she takes a library clerk job. Her best friend Leo is trying to be a DJ. She falls for the falafel street vendor Mustafa. She doesn't even know the Dewey Decimal System but if they taught a monkey to do it, how hard could it be.Parker Posey is great. After her scene-stealing turn in Dazed and Confused, this was probably the next thing I saw her in. I love her. Interestingly, this also has an early Liev Schreiber performance. This indie has some fun unique lines but it's not that well shot. This needs a better director to bring out the quirky fun out of the screen.

Strange, avant-garde, campy, AND feel-good. This movie walks a delicate line. Parker Posey is phenomenal, but so is the writing and directing which crams every moment and every character with witty humor. It's a cool, sly type of humor, for example: a librarian yells out "I've already got you on the list for the new Danielle Steele." Then we see that she's talking to a young black man who gives a confused look. Young black males are not Danielle Steele's targeted demographic, so is this a unique man who is embarrassed by being outed as a Steele fan or has the librarian confused him with someone else. That moment causes us to question our stereotypes and gives us a laugh at the same time. But that is one miniscule joke in a movie that has thousands of such bits. It's thoughtful, intelligent and a bit emotional when it comes to the main character's search for herself and her full potential. Bravo!

I remember seeing this years ago when it first came out and I was floored by Parker Posey's performance. And the movie was pretty good also. For anyone who's spent a little too much time in the nightclub/after-hours scene, this movie will have a special charm for you. Not too serious, mostly funny, and Parker Posey definitely blazes her talented way through this indie gem.I especially liked the Diaz character (reminded me of every single struggling DJ I've ever known). And many other movies could take a cue from this movie on how to preach the virtue of responsibility without being boring and bland about it.Babaganoosh!

"Party Girl" is one of my all time favorite movies. The movie portrayed early 90's raving very well. Raves became distorted in later movies and television shows trying to depict that era of clubbing. The only show I can think of at the moment is "Saved by the Bell: The College Years" where Zack, wearing all plaid, has an idea to have a rave on campus, decked out with black lights, horrible music, and "whip-its.""Party Girl" set itself apart from these stereotypical rave-umentaries by showing how raves (true raves) were not glow-stick, lolly-sucking teenage rebellion-fests. Posey, showing style and attitude, portrayed an over-the-top character who isn't necessarily perfect, but plays her part well. The movie isn't all about drugs, like other genre movies such as "Playing Mona Lisa." Posey played a girl that I know many of.The movie epitomized the early 90's rave era. Watch this movie at least once just for Posey's performance.