‘Licorice Pizza’ 2021 is the latest creation of Paul Thomas Anderson. The director of ‘Boogie Nights’ has created this coming-of-age movie with a new set of actors. The movie is warm and filled with humor. Introducing Cooper Hoffman (son of late Philip Seymour Hoffman), and Alana Haim, this movie is full of young and big talents. It is going to release on 26 November 2021 in the USA and in December worldwide.
Licorice Pizza-
Nobody knows why the movie is called Licorice Pizza, but this business really existed. The movie name itself raises curiosity, so what will the movie bring out? The movie is set in the ’70s or ’80s, hence portraying a vintage love story and coming-of-age drama. The love story is between a teenage boy and a not-so teenage girl. The girl is the gorgeous star of town wherein the boy is a child actor looking for his future prospects. The boy, Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman) falls for Alana Kane (Alana Haim) when she comes for his junior high school photoshoot. Alana, a bored 25 years old assistant photographer, meets this goofy, not-so-charming Gary.
Initially, Alana treats him just as a boy and later too, but a transition is observed later in the movie. Alana is bored and whimsically decides to join Gary. Although she doesn’t see him as her prince charming, she finds him rather interesting. She is clearly aware of her identity. She finds it funny when Gary tries to flirt with her and advises him to set limits. However, Gary doesn’t back off. Their cute catfight is fun to watch.
Gary and Alana pursue a friendship as well as invest in a business of waterbeds. Alana even questions herself about what she is even doing with a bunch of 15-year-old kids. Yet, she finds their company to be comforting. Gary may appear ordinary but he is extraordinary. He is an actor with a business mind, Gary’s character is something worth mentioning, but his presence is overshadowed by Alana. At such a gap, the actors full fill their roles completely.
To End with …
LicoricePIzza 2021 is basically about the trip of Alana in search of something in her life. So coincidentally, she meets Gary but doesn’t give him enough importance. She meets various personalities in different fields. In the end, what she really needed was the company of Gary. She may have given Gary an image of a teenage boy interested in older women, just an attribute of human nature. Gary indeed is an example of the classic phrase ‘Love is blind’.
Overall, this movie has an interesting pair of humans. Unconditional love between 15 and 25 years olds. It really says age is just a number. Gary is brave and thirsty for competition. He doesn’t easily back off. He tries his very best to rile up Alana, but can a 25-year seasoned girl find it as an act of a man or a 15-year boy? Will it really bloom between Gary and Alana? It can be only said when it finally steps out. Time will reveal everything.
