A good time will be had by all who know what to expect
from the five cute sweethearts of the pop stage (and
now screen) who promise to give you what you really,
really want; nothing more and nothing less. The film is
a fun romp with the five beauties bouncing around
through the world they inhabit while oodles of stars
keep popping up unexpectedly in cameos to add to the
laughs.
For those of you can still remember "A Hard Day's
Night", this product might only seem to be an empty
shell, but, let me remind you, times have changed. The
Spice Girls might have lots of energy, looks, ambition,
panache, money, and clothes, but the Beatles had
something called wit. (The Beatles will, undoubtedly,
capture more minds in future generations, but the
demands of the present generation seem to be more
and more satisfied by instantaneous gratification.) As
the girls cut around the corners of London's streets in
their gigantic double-decker bus, one thinks back to the
bus in Magical Mystery Tour. Just as the Beatles,
during their most productive years, created at least
three fascinating cinema documents to ponder, this film
attempts to achieve something of equal footing without
bothering about incorporating excessive qualities of
cleverness or wit. One of the scenes that does manage
to hold something of a candle is the photo shoot-where
the girls are modeling clothes. Another real moment of
laughter is Bob Hoskins' exit from the phone booth.
One can almost imagine them lounging around some
luxurious flat and choosing whatever flew into their cute
little heads to serve as plot line. Those who adore the
Spice Girls, however, will undoubtedly enjoy
themselves watching this fun-loving adolescent romp.
The song numbers succeed and are fun, but a few less
close-ups would have drawn less attention to the less
than perfect lip-sync. Polished and slick, fast-paced
and sexy, don't ask for anything more.
The Girls are on their way to the Albert Hall (sound
familiar?) in five days time and it's busy, busy, busy as
everybody tries to keep up with them. From paparazzi
to producers, they all wind up in a bit of the action as
the frenetic five sail across the streets and over the
river in an ambitious race to fill their pockets while
giving the fans what they want (,well almost). The Girls
find it enthralling to enthrall and they find themselves
most enthralling of all.
As far as acting in the film goes, we can be summary
about the girls and go straight to the other players.
Richard E. Grant as Clifford, their manager, and Alan
Cumming as documentary director Piers Cutherton-
Smyth have sizable roles and have, unfortunately, been
directed to give performances at variance with their
normal state-of-the-art work. The result is that these
two usually very funny comedians come off as rank
amateurs. On the other hand, those who were wise
enough to join in the fun solely for cameos (such as
Hoskins, Meatloaf, Roger Moore, Richard O' Brien,
Barry Humphries, George Wendt, Elvis Costello,
Jennifer Saunders, Jools Hollland, Bob Geldof, Elton
John, Bill Paterson, Richard Briers, Jonathan Ross,
and others) come off much better for taking the whole
thing as a joke. The script and dialogue don't really
pretend to be anything more than a joke.
As for all the discussion about the Spice Girls' future:
what can I say except Take That?
© 1994-2006 The Green Hartnett
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