When the Spice Girls landed on our star spangled shores they brought with them a message of platform sneakers, union jack bodysuits, zig-a-zig-ahing, and most importantly GIRL POWER. It’s something that’s lacking in current music and pop culture with the media fueling stories of rivalries, jealousy and copycats. Rodney was right: Can’t we all just get along? (and make fun summer remixes?).Times Square is ALL about girl power and finding confidence in your own voice. Two runaways form a rag-tag hustlin’ duo turned angsty girl band. Nicky Marotta is a scrappy wild child with a raspy voice that I’m convinced is the product of smoking loosies and drinking whiskey since birth. Pamela “Pammy” Pearl is a doll faced poet with an an old soul who rejects her politician father’s idea of beautifying a then seedy jizz soaked Times Square.
Their story inspires a following from misunderstood girls and DJ Johnny LaGuardia (played by the incomparable Tim Curry) who narrates the film and champions the girls’ punk rock attitude and rejection of the establishment. We follow their many half baked schemes to make money to live: stick ups, window cleaning, and gambling which elevates to dancing at a strip club. Pammy stands frozen on the stage, back turned to a roaring audience of scum bags. She closes her eyes and finds the music: humming and then swaying. Soon she’s whippin’ her hair back and forth, pulling some goofy white girl moves and the crowd softens up. The room fills with wide smiles, golf clapping, and cheering. The innocence of this scene and the duos ability to get out of any sticky situation is part of the charm of this film. Thanks Allan Moyle! When not doing the Charleston at the strip club they channel their emotions into music creating songs that speak to a generation of girls. In the end their short but emotional adventure teaches them more about themselves than any parent or school ever could.
