Licorice Pizza 2021

In the sun-kissed San Fernando Valley of 1973, a group of pre-teens gathered for a photo shoot, their excitement palpable as they awaited the flashbulbs to capture their youthful essence. Amidst this backdrop of carefree abandon, Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman), a charismatic 15-year-old with Hollywood aspirations, locked eyes with Alana Kane (Alana Haim), a 25-year-old photographer’s assistant, her gaze as piercing as the morning light. Despite their age disparity, Gary found himself smitten by Alana’s enigmatic presence, and he made it his mission to strike up a conversation, much to her initial disinterest.

Gary’s persistence eventually won over Alana, and they began meeting at a local eatery where he held court with the manager, who seemed to regard him as a regular. As they chatted about their respective jobs – Gary worked with his mom at a public relations firm, while Alana assisted behind the lens – Gary proudly declared that they would not soon forget each other.

Their budding friendship was mirrored in their living situations: Alana resided with her parents and two sisters (all played by Alana Haim’s real-life family), while Gary shared an apartment with his brother Greg (Milo Herschlag). As their bond grew stronger, Gary confided in Alana about his work with his mom, Momma Anita (Mary Elizabeth Ellis), at a public relations company. Together, they courted the owners of a new Japanese restaurant, Jerry Frick (John Michael Higgins) and Mioko (Yumi Mizui), whose awkward interactions left much to be desired.

When Gary’s mother refused to chaperone his trip to New York for auditions and a variety show, Alana offered to accompany him instead. It was there that Gary reunited with his castmates from the film “Under One Roof,” where he had starred alongside renowned actress Lucille Dolittle (Christine Ebersole). A pillow-flying incident during the show would leave Lucille furious, while Gary’s attempts at humor only earned him a slap. Later, he met with agent Gale (Maya Rudolph), landing a commercial for a vest as Alana befriended another actor, Lance (Skyler Gisondo).

Upon their return to California, Alana began dating Lance, but things took a turn when she invited him over for dinner with her family. His reluctance to recite a prayer due to his atheist beliefs would ultimately lead to the end of their relationship.

As Gary delves deeper into the world of waterbeds, he enlists the help of his friends Kirk (Will Arangola) and Mark (Griff Giacchino), as well as Alana, with whom he’s developing a romantic connection. The group attends the Soggy Bottom expo, where they mingle with other exhibitors, including a booth featuring “The Munsters” - Fred Gwynne (John C. Reilly) makes a memorable appearance, adding to the event’s eccentric charm. However, Gary’s entrepreneurial endeavors are abruptly halted when he’s arrested by aggressive police officers on suspicion of murder. Alana rushes to the police station, where she’s relieved to learn that Gary is soon released after their initial suspect denies knowing him. As they leave the station together, Gary and Alana share a heartfelt hug.

As Alana takes charge of handling phone inquiries for their waterbed business, Gary offers her guidance on how to present herself in a more alluring manner. However, he becomes increasingly uncomfortable with the way she’s embracing the role, particularly when an agent, Mary Grady (Harriet Sansom Harris), suggests that Alana consider appearing nude in films. The tension between them boils over as they argue about Gary’s unease with the prospect of audiences seeing Alana naked - something he can’t reconcile himself to. The rift is momentarily bridged when Alana eventually relents and shares a tender moment with Gary, but her patience wears thin when he asks to touch her bare skin. She slaps him in response, leaving their relationship precariously balanced.

At a later event designed to promote waterbeds, Gary meets Sue Pomerantz (Isabelle Kusman), a classmate who catches his eye. As they chat and grow more comfortable around each other, Alana witnesses the budding connection and reacts with a mixture of jealousy and hurt. She retaliates by randomly kissing another individual and then sets off alone in her underwear, having earlier modeled that way for an event. The scene is set for a tangled web of emotions as Gary navigates his feelings for Alana amidst the chaos of his waterbed business and personal relationships.

As Alana’s star rises, she finds herself in the spotlight at an audition alongside none other than the enigmatic Jack Holden (Sean Penn). His keen eye for talent is immediately drawn to her, and he waxes poetic about her resemblance to the inimitable Grace Kelly. As they take a break from the audition process, Jack invites Alana to join him at “The Tail o’ the Cock”, where Gary and his cohorts happen to be sipping on their drinks of choice. It’s here that Jack reconnects with old friend Rex Blau (Tom Waits), a director known for pushing creative boundaries. The pair regales the assembled crowd with a reenactment of Jack’s iconic motorcycle stunt from his film “The Bridges of Toko-San”, a feat he once accomplished alongside Kelly. Alana, perched on the back of the motorcycle, loses her balance as soon as they take off, and it’s left to Gary to rush to her side and ensure her safety amidst the cheering throng. Later that night, Gary accompanies Alana back to the waterbed store, where exhaustion gets the better of her, and she dozes off. As he stands watch, Gary finds himself torn between his desire to comfort Alana and his own inhibitions.

Meanwhile, news of an impending oil embargo and subsequent gas crisis sends shockwaves through the community. Alana attributes the shortage in part to the proliferation of waterbeds, which, thanks to their vinyl composition, rely on oil-based production. This timely insight is later brought to bear when Gary, Alana, Greg, Kirk, and Mark pay a visit to producer Jon Peters (Bradley Cooper), a man not known for his rational demeanor. As they prepare to deliver a waterbed to his residence, they’re met with a barrage of bizarre demands from the eccentric producer, who insists on perfect pronunciation of his girlfriend’s name (Barbra Streisand) and makes thinly veiled threats against Gary’s family should anything go awry during the setup process. In the end, it’s a series of small mishaps – including a mangled hose and a water-soaked carpet – that prompt their hasty exit from the premises.

As Gary and Alana depart from their tumultuous encounter with Jon, the latter’s sudden appearance on the hillside forces them to make an impromptu stop at a gas station to refuel his stranded vehicle. Unbeknownst to them, this brief respite would prove a harbinger of chaos, as they soon find themselves fleeing the scene in terror after witnessing Jon’s brazen threat to immolate a stranger with gasoline and a lighter. Their high-speed getaway ultimately culminates in the truck’s demise, its fuel tank depleted, leaving Gary and Alana scrambling to push their vehicle down the hillside until it comes to an abrupt halt in the middle of the street.

With the waterbed business in disarray due to the gas crisis, Gary and Alana are compelled to diversify their income streams. Gary invests in a pinball arcade, while Alana turns her attention to volunteer work for mayoral candidate Councilman Joel Wachs (Benny Safdie). However, their newfound endeavors are soon marred by a bitter argument that drives them apart.

As Alana settles into her new role at the campaign office, she’s struck by the presence of a suspicious individual (Jon Beavers), who seems to be casing the premises. Her confrontations with him yield only vague explanations for his interest in the office. Later, when Alana is invited to join Wachs and his partner Matthew (Joseph Cross) for drinks, she’s once again confronted by the enigmatic figure lurking nearby. The evening takes a surprising turn as Alana learns that Wachs is gay and that her new acquaintance is likely a spy attempting to dig up dirt on Wachs’ campaign. In a surprising twist, Wachs asks Alana to accompany Matthew home and pose as his girlfriend. As they settle into the evening’s routine, Matthew breaks down in tears, confiding in Alana about the difficulties he faces in his personal life. The two commiserate over their shared experiences with unsatisfying relationships, both crying together in a poignant display of empathy and understanding.

As the curtain opens on Gary’s long-awaited pinball paradise, a veritable smorgasbord of annoying patrons and adults alike converge to celebrate its grand opening. Amidst the chaos, our protagonist finds himself face-to-face with an acquaintance of Alana’s, prompting him to inquire about her whereabouts. Undeterred by the lack of success at the campaign office - where he had hoped to catch a glimpse of his beloved - Gary persists in his search, driven by an insatiable longing to reunite with the object of his affections.

Meanwhile, Alana herself embarks on a parallel quest, retracing the steps that led her to Gary’s doorstep for their first fateful encounter. Her efforts yield nothing but disappointment and frustration as she fails to find him at the restaurant where their romance blossomed. As if drawn by an unseen force, both Gary and Alana continue their separate searches until, in a stroke of serendipity, they collide once more - this time, quite literally, outside the local movie theater.

The stage is set for a romantic reprise as Gary invites Alana to join him at his pinball arcade, where he proudly introduces her as “Mrs. Alana Valentine” - a gesture met with a mix of amusement and exasperation from his blushing companion. With a mischievous glint in his eye, Gary seizes the moment, initiating a passionate kiss that leaves no doubt about the depth of his feelings.

As the dust settles on this impromptu interlude, Alana’s sentiments are laid bare: she confesses her love for Gary, sealing their bond with an emotional intensity that cannot be contained. With the die cast and the stage set for further adventure, our star-crossed lovers take flight once more, their hearts soaring in tandem as they embark on a new chapter in their whirlwind romance.