There's nothing quite like the mention of the name Ricki - with that exact spelling - to take me back to the glory days of daytime talk shows.
What is spawning my memories of that loveable crowd chant from Ricki Lake though has absolutely nothing to do with television and is also not due to watching Hairspray, but from a less likely source.
Oh how I wish this was an announcement that Meryl Streep was getting her own talk show. Just imagine it - her show would be all about championing women and a lot of time would be spent teaching the audience how to do the perfect enthusiastic finger point. It is not that, however, anytime there is a trailer for a new Streep movie, is a reason to get excited.
Streep has, yet again, tackled a musical focused role. This time, in Ricki and The Flash,there's no twisted fairy tales or ABBA, just Streep as a cool rock chick who doesn't want to grow up and who looks to be channeling the badass ladies from Heart.
Even though most people probably had never imagined Streep fronting a band, that doesn't change the fact that this is an absolutely fantastic idea. I would have signed up sight unseen had a blank poster simply stated, "Meryl Streep wears a bunch of crazy hairstyles and sort of looks like Stevie Nicks. Oh, she's also in a band with Rick Springfield ."
Done! Make that movie!
And they did.
Just at first glimpse, we automatically think, "it's a Sophie's Choice reunion!" But besides the terrific cast, this movie looks like it's not really bringing anything new to the table. As in, if Streep wasn't the star, this wouldn't have quite the same pull.
Although, once you look at those impressive people who are working behind the scenes, it seems likely that there is a lot more going on than can be shown in a quick, somewhat happy-go-lucky, trailer.
With a director like Jonathan Demme (who is known for classics like, Philadelphia and Silence Of The Lambs) and screenwriter Diablo Cody (who won an Oscar for penning Juno), I trust that the movie will not be simple, as the trailer tends to make it seem. Hopefully, it will instead dig rather deeply into the struggles of parents and children who are trying to live, be happy, and fulfill wants, needs, and dreams. We all know Demme is especially great at tackling that kind of family drama after directing a movie that is completely focused on those tensions - Rachel Getting Married.
It's probably unlikely that Streep will be seen talking on a hamburger phone, but I hope Cody still dropped plenty of pop culture references in that script and gave Streep some brilliant sass, great zingers, and most of all, some heart. Yeah, those are all the things I loved about Juno and still think it is pretty darn great.
Let's not pretend that there is actually something that would stop me - or lots of people - from seeing this flick. With Streep on board, I will see (and more than likely love) this movie no matter the circumstances.
Now that she's played a rocker, has Streep done every type of role imaginable? I hope she keeps being creative and flipping expectations. That's what makes her insanely fun to watch.
Until next time.
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