'Valley Girl' is a star crossed romance between a suburban valley girl (Deborah Foreman) and a Hollywood punk enthusiast (Nicolas Cage). Iconically 80's film is remembered for its soundtrack and snippets of slang, a time capsule that's almost worth the watch just for its period shots of the Sunset Stip and Hollywood Blvd. What makes the movie work as a ground level viewing experience however is its so well cast.
Cage is good of course, but how come Foreman didn't have more of a career? Each of Deborah's three besties has at least a little bit of a story, with Elizabeth Daily being the stand out. I rather liked Deborah's hippie turned health food store proprietor parents; they're good, loving parents, they know their daughter well enough to trust her decisions, they're chill where genra convention would call for kill joys. I also enjoyed how they chose to get high to deal with the existential angst of their daughter going to junior prom. Cameron Dye was a great, has your back friend for Cage, even when Nic was being difficult. I liked these characters. Even Deborah's old boyfriend Micheal Bowen wasn't so much of a jerk that you couldn't see his appeal. The movie works, where it could as easily not have, had it been given less care. ***
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