Licorice Pizza

 

Licorice and Pizza, two things that don't go together; or shouldn't, just like Alana (Alana Haim) and Gary (Cooper Hoffman -  the late and great Philip Seymour Hoffman's son in his acting debut). Alana is a twenty something year old woman working, taking high school photographs for the yearbook, when she meets fifteen year old Gary, hustler. The age gap is the problem, but the high school chemistry is pure rom-com magic. If you don't know the films of Paul Thomas Anderson, well he is the gentleman who gave us "There Will Be Blood" and "Boogie Nights." So if you know those films, then imagine a romantic comedy written and directed by such an individual and you get "Licorice Pizza." It's funny, bizarre at times, and heartfelt. It's also a massive nostalgia trip for those old enough to remember the 70s - there are some catchy tunes in there also. Hoffman and Haim are great, as are the rest of the cast and all the funny cameos (Bradley Cooper was a standout for me). If you want to stretch the creative limits of the rom-com (stretch it like a piece of licorice or a gooey piece of cheesy pizza) then check out this Oscar nominated film at a theatre near you.