Valley Girl by Martha Coolidge

Coolidge, Martha. Valley Girl. MGM, 2003. DVD. R. 99 mins. ASIN: B00005JLFA

Plot Summary

“As if!” Julie and her friends are typical high school seniors living in there little bubble in the valley. They shop, go to the mall, and eat sushi. Randy is your typical punk rocker from the other side of the tracks. Julie breaks up with Tommy out of boredom and want someone new, someone like Randy. The two are complete opposites from but are attracted to one another in an instant. Randy introduces Julio into his world which she is intrigued but scared to step out of her bubble. Julies friends are not fond of Randy because he is not the typical boy from the valley. Randy falls deeply in love with Julie but Julie is to scared to completely leave her bubble. Julie must step out of the water to be with her love but is in fear of losing her friends and the life that she has had her entire life, for a punk.

Critical evaluation

Opposites attract in this love story about boy meet girl but with a modern twist to it. Randy and Julie both fall madly in love with one another but Julie becomes confused when her friends begin to question there relationship and her reputation. Julie is a popular girl at school and being with Randy might have consequences. Julies unsupportive friends cause her to question her relationship with Randy. Julies situation is difficult because she has to choose between her friends and her boyfriend. This movie captures the two most important cultures in L.A. of the 80s, punk and valley. A great 80s film that features great music and helped the career of Nicholas cage. The movie captures teenage love and LA through two different view points.

Readers Annotations

Julie, the typical valley girl, and Randy, the punk rocker, are from different worlds but are attracted to one another. Julie is a teen girl who is not sure what she really wants and becomes torn between Randy and social suicide.

Information About the Author

Coolidge making her mark in the early eighties with a pair of teen classics like Valley Girl.

Genre

Comedy/Romance

Curriculum Ties

Music

Booktalking Ideas

1) What defines a valley girl and a punk

2) Opposites attract

3) First person narrative of Julie- leave Randy or not

Reading Level/Interest Age

17+

Why Book Included

One of the most popular movies of the 80s