Licorice Pizza

This is an article “Licorice Pizza” by Marc Primo

Release date: 26 November 2021 (United States)

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Language: English

Production companies: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Focus Features[1], Bron Creative, Ghoulardi Film Company

Producers: Sara Murphy, Adam Somner, Paul Thomas Anderson

SPOILER ALERT – Who would have thought that watching a love story set in 1970s Hollywood on today's silver screen for Generation Z'ers could be so touching? Paul Thomas Anderson's latest romantic-comedy offering, Licorice Pizza, defies time, generations, and trends. But more importantly, the film introduces exceptional newcomers Alana Haim (of the multi-awarded band Haim) and Cooper Hoffman (son of the late great Philip Seymour Hoffman) to movie buffs thirsty for fresh talent.

Why it clicks with both adult and younger audiences might have something to do with both nostalgia and relevance. Boomers and Generation X'ers get to visit the world of pre-internet young love, while most Millennials and Generation Z'ers see the same independence and resilience they aspire to gain from the lead characters.

Is it similar to Cameron Crowe's coming-of-age hit Almost Famous? Not quite, although common denominators include pop songs of the era, impeccable direction, compelling screenplay, and an overall package that has earned it three Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.

Let's just say that Licorice Pizza offers a generous serving of saccharine that 500 Days of Summer did, a hefty dose of La La Land's well-choreographed ups and downs in a relationship, and a dash of generational crazy from Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Not quite your typical combo of toppings on the dough, but definitely a satisfyingly tasty new flavor.

A slice of the young Hollywood life

Audiences get to meet photographer assistant Alana Kane (Haim) and aspiring teen actor Gary Valentine (Hoffman) as the opening scene rolls at a high school in San Fernando Valley. Fifteen-year-old Gary walks over to 25-year-old Alana and attempts to ignite a potential May-December love affair.

Though Alana is not interested in giving in to the young actor's charms, Gary's moxie and confidence eventually lands him on her good side. Soon, the two develop a profound friendship.

Alana agrees to substitute for Gary’s mother as chaperone and accompanies him to a New York television performance featuring Lucy Doolittle (loosely based on legendary comedian Lucille Ball). Unfortunately for Gary, Lucy is smitten by his co-star Lance (Skyler Gisondo) in the process.

However, Lucy's relationship with Lance is short-lived, owing to a dinner date with Alana's strictly Jewish family (the entire Haim clan). Lance proclaims that he is an atheist, much to everyone's disapproval, and things go awry.

Meanwhile, Gary skews his interests toward being an entrepreneur selling waterbeds. At one point during their friendship, Alana senses Gary's nervousness from his heavy breathing, prompting her to tell him “don't do that”, to which he replies, “don't breathe?”. Later on, Gary phones Alana. Her sister picks up instead so he pretends to be Lance, only to again breathe heavily just as Alana says “hello”. It is a crudely touching scene that alludes to the prevalence of obscene callers in the '70s, while doubling as an unlikely plot device to highlight the pair’s chemistry and, ultimately, Gary’s feelings for Alana.

Soon, Alana jumps in to help Gary with his waterbed business as the twists and turns of young love without labels or commitment follow them as they bounce in and out of Hollywood. Alana auditions for a Jack Holden (Sean Penn) film and falls in love with a gay politician (Benny Safdie). The gas crisis disrupts Gary's flourishing business, getting him in trouble with high-as-a-kite producer, Jon Peters (Bradley Cooper).

Throughout the platonic journey, viewers are taken on a ride through scattershot scenes. And in the end, everything becomes as distinctive as licorice yet appealing like pizza, regardless of how strange a combination the two make.

Truly Oscar-worthy

While the efforts of Lana Haim and Cooper Hoffman didn't earn them Oscar nods this year, Anderson continues his streak as a consistent Academy Award bet both for direction and original screenplay.

However, there's no denying the onscreen chemistry of the neophyte actors, thanks to Anderson’s nimble yet decadent treatment of their scenes. The veteran director is truly on form in Licorice Pizza, providing both Haim and Hoffman a golden opportunity to grandstand their performances through his masterful storytelling.

The same goes for the short appearances of A-list actors and artists like Sean Penn, Bradley Cooper, and the ever-animated Tom Waits. While they add to the film's novelty, the cameos do not steal the spotlight from Haim and Hoffman; in fact, they help make the duo shine even more. There's also Harriet Sansom Harris as Mary Grady, Gary's agent, who makes a mark in the few scenes she has.

Yet aside from the on and offscreen performances, there are more elements to like about Licorice Pizza. The repartees in particular stand out, with witticisms like "you say everything twice," "f*ck off teenagers," "how are you? Divorced but I'm losing weight," or "what does your penis look like?”– it's easy to get amused by the many odd conversations in the entire film.

Oven-baked perfectly

Licorice Pizza effectively tells the tale of wayward Hollywood youths navigating through the '70's eccentricities. It's a paradoxical love story with the leads not quite being in love at the same time. And in the film canon, that provides the perfect vehicle for conflict and laughs.

Still, the serious takeaways here are not to be dismissed unlike with typical coming-of-age films. Anderson efficiently conveys how we can be in love while young then shift our priorities and perspectives to polar opposites without hurting each other. It's a risky way to tell a love story, but the direction and cast are flawless and oozing with charm that you'll be afraid to miss every detail, especially when Alana and Gary are onscreen.

Yes, the cringy love lesson of letting the one you love fly away until she returns reverberates quite loudly. However, Licorice Pizza teaches us to develop the patience to know the characters, fall in love with them, and allow them to win us back once the epiphanies kick in.

Anderson's slow cook method will send pleasant tingles and happy vibes until the final line is uttered. So, without further ado: "Everyone, everyone… may I have your attention, please. Let me introduce to you– Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman!"