To celebrate the 35th anniversary (has it really been that long!) of Valley Girl, the fine folks at Shout Select are releasing the film on Blu-Ray for the very first time.
The 80s classic stars Nicolas Cage as Randy, a rocking, punkish teenager from Hollywood who finds himself falling for a belle from the valley, Julie (Deborah Foreman). This is early in the Decade of Decadence, so expect plenty of valley girl speak (i.e. words and phrases such as tubular and gag me with a spoon, for starters!) and fantastic music from the era that was firmly defined by its sonic succulence.
Valley Girl took a formula that we all know so well—mismatched people who find love, despite the obstacles (such as her snobby friends)—and updated it for a whole new generation in a manner that defined those early days of that decade. The film its an utter delight and one that has quietly influenced many over the years and the fact that it has not been released on Blu-Ray is actually quite stunning. But, that old phrase about good things coming to those who wait could not be truer with the hi-def arrival of director Martha Coolidge’s breakout flick. She would go on to direct many a must-see, including the comedy classic Real Genius.
Watching this film for the first time in, truthfully, 20 years, something struck me that is truly profound. There are many flicks that make a societal splash upon arrival that fail to age well. That is not even close to the case with Valley Girl. The themes, tone, soundtrack and even production design stand as a testament to quality filmmaking from a filmmaker whose attention to detail is impeccable.
For fans of the film, the arrival on Blu-Ray is a moment to celebrate. The video and audio transfer is stunningly gorgeous. The lights of Los Angeles come alive. The costumes come across as sensationally sharp. The score by Marc Levinthal and Scott Wilk and that electric 80s soundtrack (featuring tons of hits that defined an era) sound stellar. We’re talking about a period in music where the synthesizer was king and as such, the audio transfer could not have been more pitch perfect. Frederick Elmes’ cinematography looks exquisite, thus bringing out the best from production designer Marya Delia Javier.
By now, it’s easy to see that I am beyond impressed with the film’s journey from DVD to Blu-Ray. The greatest thing about this Blu-Ray is the story itself and how it is executed and brought together by all those involved.
This is an early in his career Cage. But, the signs of greatness that would lead him to the Oscar stage years later is hinted throughout. This is a character that could have been incredibly two-dimensional. In the hands of the future Academy Award winner, Randy is rich, multifaceted and layered. Cage also delivers a soul that is much more than meets the eye. There’s a lesson in there about books and judging covers, but it is done in such a way through the performances of all involved—but especially Cage—that it is as entertaining as it is enlightening.
Foreman is a delight. It is disappointing that wide audiences did not get to see much more from her over the years. She was the right actress at the right time with the right character that added up to a teenage Valley Girl who also is deeper than appears on the surface. Through the collective talents of Cage and Foreman, it is firmly believable that these two vastly different souls would find each other—first of all—and find love in the process. That is the key. Without that, everything in the film would fall flat and it is just the opposite. It is electric.
Our look at the bonus features must commence with the fifty-minute (!) Valley Girl In Conversation. Time is the ultimate perspective creator and basking in the fascinating conversation between director Coolidge, actors Elizabeth (EG) Daily and Heidi Holicker is nothing short of a must-see. Witnessing this trio of talent reminiscing about the making of the movie, providing priceless insights into some of the film’s more legendary moments… it is divine for the flick’s exponentially growing fan base.
A portion of that roundtable discussion was cut out and presented as its own bonus feature that is also a true joy. Show and Tell finds Holicker and some of her memorabilia from the film!
Greetings from the San Fernando Valley, an almost twenty-minute look at the locale that inspired the film’s moniker. Cage starts off the featurette with an archival interview and then Tommy Gelinas of The Valley Relics Museum takes over and gives viewers a terrific virtual tour of the famed Los Angeles landscape.
For those who adore the finer and deeper looks at how movie magic is made, Storyboard-to-Film Comparisons is a rather unique approach to your standard (and all too often, pedantic) behind-the-scenes featurette. Coolidge introduces the featurette that brilliantly shows how the planning for a film evolves into the actual creation of the art.
In Conversation: Martha Coolidge and Nicolas Cage finds the Valley Girl creative duo reflecting on the moviemaking experience. This is a featurette that has been on previous home video versions, and if one has not seen it prior—dive right in!
Another archival piece, 20 Totally Tubular Years Later arrives from the DVD release back in the day and is an entertaining and enlightening experience. For those of us who adore 80s music, The Music of Valley Girl delves deeply into the soundtrack. Speaking to its brilliance are cast members and some of the bands who scored the honor of being on the soundtrack.
The 2003 DVD also gave us great (and meaty) featurettes that look at The Girls, The Boys, The Parents, The Bands and The Producers-Writers.
Last, but not least, Music Videos features two of the classics from the film, I Melt With You and Million Miles Away.
Film Grade: B+
Bonus Features: A