To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Eureka Entertainment has put out a Limited Edition box set of Valley Girl, which also serves as the film’s home video debut in the UK. While this independently produced film was the breakthrough work for director Martha Coolidge, it was also notably the first major film role for Nicolas Cage.
Written by Wayne Crawford and Andrew Lane, this loose adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet follows an unlikely couple made up of Hollywood punk Randy (Nicolas Cage) and rich Valley girl Julie (Deborah Foreman). Sparks fly between the pair after meeting at a party, although Julie’s friends are less than complimentary of her boyfriend, leaving her torn between Randy and her “valley girl” lifestyle.
The opening moments show aerial views of both Hollywood and the Valley, with their subsequent radio stations differently defining themselves to show how these locations feel worlds apart despite being in close proximity. Despite their different residences, the people share more in common than they realise, as conveyed when the characters visit a Valley party and a Hollywood bar where all eyes are felt upon the alien presence standing out amongst the crowd. It is through this commonality that the duo falls for each other, with Cage capturing a puppy dog devotion that works well off Foreman’s infectious joy, making for a cute couple. This is charmingly exemplified in a montage set to “Melt With You.”
It is [also] worth mentioning how the conversations between friends feel candid, especially in ways that many depictions of teenage girls often shy away from
Despite being evidently happy, Julie is torn by her friends’ judgmental perceptions of Randy. They encourage her to reconsider her ex-boyfriend Tommy (Michael Bowen), who masks his manipulative side by playing the victim. It is odd how his deceitful machinations do not come out, especially considering the impact it has on Julie’s friends. It is part of a story that has long resonated with teenagers, facing an important decision between what they want and how they are perceived. Julie’s grappling with this leads to a bump in the road for her relationship, although the way this momentary heartbreak unfolds feels unfortunately contrived.
Coolidge does stellar work directing, particularly during the fun instances of expected moments being juxtaposed by the setting they unfold within. Be it Julie sharing her new relationship with her friends during a disastrous student driving session, or a fight breaking out behind the scenes during an emotional speech at prom, these are entertaining methods of delivering familiar beats. There is also a touching subplot involving parents faced with the passage of time, as Julie’s mother and father reminisce on their past as their daughter comes of age. Taking a different approach is an icky subplot where sparks fly between a Valley woman and her stepdaughter’s love interest.
What’s evident is how these worlds feel so vibrant and alive, from the local dialect employed in dialogue to the believable friendships. It is also worth mentioning how the conversations between friends feel candid, especially in ways that many depictions of teenage girls often shy away from. Accompanied by a tremendous New Wave soundtrack, this is an engaging romance which is brought alive courtesy of a magnificent central pairing.
Valley Girl is out now on Eureka Entertinment Blu-Ray
James’s Archive: Valley Girl
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