Party Girl Movie Review (1995)
A zany film about a stylish young woman with big party dreams and no life goals, Party Girl is a fun time covered in candy coating with Parker Posey at the helm.
I might be biased, but I think that Parker Posey is super cool. She is unlike any other actor, with her little quirks and brave choices, and she has run the gamut as far as the types of projects she has chosen. Between Dazed and Confused and Clockwatchers, and more recently, The White Lotus and Beau Is Afraid, she continues to be a performer that I am fascinated by. That being the case, how did I never watch this movie before?
Party Girl is about Mary, a young woman who attends or throws a different party nightly, and has almost no income or drive. When she gets arrested for throwing an illegal rave, she asks her godmother, Judy, to bail her out and lend her money. Instead, Judy, who is not a fan of Mary’s life choices, gets her a job at the library where she works. During this time, Mary also flirts with Mustafa, a Lebanese food cart vendor.
This is a really cute indie film with a Bohemian vibe that grabs your attention from the very first frames. The credits are colorful and the camerawork is unusual, so you are immediately “in it” for whatever comes next.
Parker Posey is adorable as Mary, a girl who surrounds herself with the same friends that she sees at nightly parties and allows one to crash at her apartment. Young Guillermo Díaz plays her DJ roommate, Leo, and young Liev Schreiber plays an off-and-on party love interest.
There is a lot to like about this film, but one of the main things is that Posey’s clothes are essentially their own character. And they are fabulous. It doesn’t matter whether you know a stitch about fashion or coordination, you will be taken with this hugely eclectic and imaginative wardrobe. From a green leopard print plush skirt and platform heels to a pantsuit that looks like wallpaper, I couldn’t wait to see what she’d been wearing next.
Color also plays a huge role in Party Girl. Everything is bright and striking, with a loud color palette that follows Mary around. In one scene in her apartment, she is sitting at the kitchen table with various colorful kitchen items around her, and a black and white Sugar Frosted Flakes box resting in the middle of the table. It was so strikingly different because your eyes are constantly flushed with rainbows that it is now seared into my mind. Such a great choice.
Party Girl is an incredibly likeable film with a great lead and lots of imagination. It is short and to the point, without any time wasted, but it also floats along, just like Mary. I’m glad I finally watched it, and I think you’ll enjoy it as well.
Runtime: 94 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: R
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Nope
My Rating: 3.75/5 Stars
Available: Free on Tubi and Sling TV, to rent on Prime Video, or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
