Gia Coppola’s film about a Las Vegas showgirl who has to plan for her future after her show suddenly closes after 30 years gives two veteran actresses a lot of scenery to chew on, but not quite enough.
Pamela Anderson goes all in on the performance of her career, adding heart to the film where her character tries to be close to her own borderline estranged daughter whilst her younger costars view her as a motherly figure. When her own daughter tells her what a terrible mother she was, she pushes away her show daughters because she gave the attention she should have given her own kid, and even tells one of the girls to leave her alone so she can practice for an audition. An imperfect person struggling with not giving enough when it mattered to pursue her career.
Jamie Lee Curtis turns in a great supporting performance as a retired showgirl turned casino waitress with a gambling problem. While I wish the film gave her a little more time to really show us the gambling issues instead of just mentioning them, Curtis takes what she was given and makes the most of it.
With the younger cast, Kiernan Shipka and Brenda Song bring youth to the aging Las Vegas show that feels out of place in today’s society. Shipka in particular is great as her character desires a mother / daughter dynamic with Anderson’s character, but never really gets it.
Billie Lourd, too, is wonderful as Anderson’s college age daughter. Their relationship is tumultuous at best, and Dave Bautista is cast as the father who remains anonymous even though his character still runs the show. I would have liked to see what would have happened if that truth came out, but the film does not dive into it. Wish it had. It would added some heft to a film that, without the great performances from its cast, would not have had much to stand on.
Don’t get me wrong. The film has a lot to say about aging out of your job as a woman, especially if that job depends on your physical appearance and beauty. About how we are put out to pasture when we are no longer a commodity. About how what was once glamorous is now seen as an old fashioned, glittery titty show in the bright light of modern society. But, it could have given us more with Curtis’ gambling issues and the dynamic between Bautista, Anderson, and Lourd. And it doesn’t.
3.5 out of five stars for this watchable movie with memorable performances.
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Becky Tyler Art and Photography 
Gia Coppola’s film about a Las Vegas showgirl who has to plan for her future after her show suddenly closes after 30 years gives two veteran actresses a lot of scenery to chew on, but not quite enough.
Pamela Anderson goes all in on the performance of her career, adding heart to the film where her character tries to be close to her own borderline estranged daughter whilst her younger costars view her as a motherly figure. When her own daughter tells her what a terrible mother she was, she pushes away her show daughters because she gave the attention she should have given her own kid, and even tells one of the girls to leave her alone so she can practice for an audition. An imperfect person struggling with not giving enough when it mattered to pursue her career.
Jamie Lee Curtis turns in a great supporting performance as a retired showgirl turned casino waitress with a gambling problem. While I wish the film gave her a little more time to really show us the gambling issues instead of just mentioning them, Curtis takes what she was given and makes the most of it.
With the younger cast, Kiernan Shipka and Brenda Song bring youth to the aging Las Vegas show that feels out of place in today’s society. Shipka in particular is great as her character desires a mother / daughter dynamic with Anderson’s character, but never really gets it.
Billie Lourd, too, is wonderful as Anderson’s college age daughter. Their relationship is tumultuous at best, and Dave Bautista is cast as the father who remains anonymous even though his character still runs the show. I would have liked to see what would have happened if that truth came out, but the film does not dive into it. Wish it had. It would added some heft to a film that, without the great performances from its cast, would not have had much to stand on.
Don’t get me wrong. The film has a lot to say about aging out of your job as a woman, especially if that job depends on your physical appearance and beauty. About how we are put out to pasture when we are no longer a commodity. About how what was once glamorous is now seen as an old fashioned, glittery titty show in the bright light of modern society. But, it could have given us more with Curtis’ gambling issues and the dynamic between Bautista, Anderson, and Lourd. And it doesn’t.
3.5 out of five stars for this watchable movie with memorable performances.
Discover more from Becky Tyler Art and Photography
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
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