by Audrey Farris ‘25

While its ‘70s aesthetic and classic soundtrack drew many in, Licorice Pizza has become a controversial, polarizing film. Portraying a relationship with a problematic age gap is a tricky task and the film struggles at points to pull it off. It dances the line between romanticizing pedophilia and outright condemning such relationships.

The story starts when Alana Kane (Alana Haim), a 25 year old school photographer meets 15 year old Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman), a child actor and high school sophomore. After conversing during picture day, Gary asks Alana on a dinner date. She states how a sexual relationship would be illegal but Gary assures her they are going platonically. As the movie continues, their relationship grows and they start a business together selling novelty waterbeds. After about a year, the two go their separate ways and lose contact, until the end. In the final scene, they find each other and kiss, which is the first time they are embracing their feelings for each other.

This ended Licorice Pizza in a weird way because after going through multiple relationships with people in each of their own age groups, they still came back to each other. The final scene is very bright and joyous but viewers weren’t left cheering for the two. Their relationship is still illegal. This scene in particular isn’t necessarily glorifying an inappropriate relationship, but it definitely is exploring their relationship.

The film thematically explores external validation by presenting a young woman who feels judged by her peers for not finding a path in life. When a teenager shows this interest in her, she is drawn to it. She is receiving this appreciation that she hasn’t gotten from the people who are closest to her. Also, Alana is envious of this boy as he is so young yet has figured himself out. Even if he’s faking his self-confidence, it comes off as genuine to her. This inappropriate power dynamic makes for an often perplexing, multi-layered relationship between the two characters.

However, Licorice Pizza gets in its own way such as through the casual racism sprinkled throughout. It’s entirely unnecessary and apparently used solely for comedic purposes, yet does the opposite and makes viewers uncomfortable. Sure, it’s a different time period, but you could show that by the clothing and the cars.

Licorice Pizza is just alright. The plot isn’t necessarily coherent and dragged on in certain parts, but the way the writers and directors dealt with the inappropriate relationship between the main characters is often fascinating even if at points uncomfortable to watch.

Grade: C-