Licorice Pizza (2022) Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson

I know he’s almost universally loved in film critic circles but I’ve had a bit of a love/not loved relationship with PT Anderson. Whereas the brilliant Phantom Thread made our top 20 of that year, I found The Master and Inherent Vice cold and impenetrable.

With Licorice Pizza though he’s taken a leaf from Richard Linklater’s often walked-down memory lane playbook to capture the hedonistic spirit of youngsters in 70s California reflecting his own childhood.

The film stars Cooper Hoffman (son of Phillip Seymour) as 15-year old actor Gary Valentine who wants to strike up a relationship with Alana Kane (Alana Haim) after meeting at a school photoshoot.

The cocky Gary attempts to woo the older woman but she initially is attracted to one of his co-stars and their on-off friendship causes problems even though Gary employs her for his waterbed-selling business. Later on he moves into a pinball arcade business and despite his age the movie shows him as a competent and savvy entrepreneur. His experience with girls is not so accomplished however, and Alana s reluctant to get involved with Gary who is simultaneously advanced for his age yet also arrogant and puffed up.

The character of Gary is based on Gary Goetzman, a child actor who really did start a waterbed company and pinball arcade and Hoffman plays the boastful yet sensitive Gary to perfection. And combined with the excellent Haim, who also stars in her first ever film role, the actors give an honest realism to the film that really connects. With each other and subsequently the audience too.

And Anderson’s support cast is as fantastic as the two leads. Not only is the film influenced by coming-of-age flicks like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, that film’s star Sean Penn appears here as a sleazy film executive focused far more on himself than Alana’s dream of being an actress.

Also along for the ride is Bradly Cooper as a version of real-life movie producer Jon Peters. His manic performance could be seen as over the top but for anyone who has heard of Peters’ real-life debauchery will know it barely scratches the surface.

Penn and Cooper deliver two of the film’s most memorable moments with Penn attempting a motorbike stunt and Cooper’s unhinged film executive having a nightmare after purchasing a waterbed and his car running out of fuel.

The film brilliantly explores the complications of love and the unfathomable attraction of two people who find their souls entwined despite all odds suggesting otherwise. And it does so without judgement and has a warm-heartedness not always seen in the director’s other work.

The mix of fresh-faced actors and a strong period soundtrack (plus another great Johnny Greenwood score) combine with pop culture references that are evocative of the time. For more mainstream audiences I hope Licorice Pizza serves as an introduction to PTA’s work and although I haven’t enjoyed all of his challenging films, I absolutely loved this one with a deep emotional and entertaining core that delivers across the board in every aspect.

★★★★½

Michael Sales