Entertainment
R-Rated, Coming Of Age Comedy On Netflix Is A Raunchy Rite Of Passage
By Robert Scucci
| Published
Young love is never easy, especially when you’re only 15 and the girl of your dreams is 25 and well into adulthood. While that dynamic may seem creepy by today’s standards for obvious reasons, 2021’s Licorice Pizza, written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and set in 1973, never quite pushes into the uncomfortable territory you might expect. A true coming of age story about a forbidden relationship that should, by all measures, never work, Licorice Pizza is light and quirky yet surprisingly disarming and wholesome.
It’s a film about a young man with an entrepreneurial spirit tactfully zeroing in on the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with, and most of the humor comes from the fact that he’s still just a boy despite the maturity he exhibits outside of his romantic pursuit. There’s an expected amount of sexual tension between our protagonists, but there’s also a level of innocence from both parties, as if they want the same things out of their lives and from each other, but are afraid to pull the trigger and commit to the relationship.
Not Your Typical Raunchy Comedy
While Paul Thomas Anderson is no stranger to pushing plots to their extremes (Boogie Nights comes to mind), Licorice Pizza takes a more subdued approach to its storytelling without skimping on the familiar motifs we’ve come to love from his films. We’re introduced to 15-year-old actor and serial entrepreneur Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman), who quickly becomes smitten with photographer’s assistant Alana Kane (Alana Haim) on school picture day. If there’s one thing you need to know about Gary, it’s that he’s an opportunist with a wildly disproportionate amount of confidence compared to most kids his age.
Alana is charmed by his advances and can-do attitude, which results in the two becoming friends of sorts when Gary asks her to chaperone his press tour in New York City after his mother can’t make the trip. Their relationship is platonic at best, but Gary wants more, while Alana is convinced they’re meant to be nothing more than friends. However, when Gary gets into trouble, Alana immediately comes to the rescue, which is exactly what happens when he’s mistakenly suspected of a nearby murder, arrested, and then quickly released.
Gary eventually gets into the waterbed trade, and Alana ends up working for him in sales. While their professional relationship seems to be going well, the 15-year-old part of Gary’s brain can’t get over the fact that she uses a sensual voice when talking to leads on the phone. He’s also upset to learn that if she ever landed an acting role requiring nudity, she’d do it without question, even though he’s never seen her naked. It’s territorial and immature, but it works in this context because we’re dealing with an otherwise decent kid blinded by teenage hormones.
Escalations Keep Making Them Closer
Licorice Pizza thrives on bizarre escalations. Alana falls victim to a botched motorcycle stunt thanks to Gary’s agent landing her an audition on a film starring acting legend Jack Holden (Sean Penn). Gary finds himself in trouble after installing a waterbed in Jon Peters’ (Bradley Cooper) mansion, prompting a fiery getaway in an 18-wheeler barreling backward down the Hollywood hills, driven by Alana. Gary jumps into yet another business venture while Alana tries to put the waterbed days behind her, but they still can’t stop thinking about each other, even as their paths diverge.
There’s a charm to Licorice Pizza that’s hard to pin down, and it likely comes from just how innocent both Gary and Alana really are. Social norms keep them from openly announcing their affection, and they have their fair share of blowups over their frustrating dynamic. At the same time, they function as each other’s ride-or-die, even as their circumstances keep their hearts and their heads at constant odds.
At the end of the day, a kid who’s not old enough to buy his first pack of cigarettes is head-over-heels in love with a woman who’s old enough to rent a car. He knows it’s weird, and so does she, but Licorice Pizza works by leaning into how guarded both Gary and Alana are when it comes to fully committing. Gary is aggressive in his pursuit, but he never crosses the obvious boundaries that would make him unsympathetic. Alana doesn’t know what she wants, but all signs keep pointing back to Gary. We can only hope they eventually see eye to eye and live happily ever after as the world around them grows more confusing and hostile.
Licorice Pizza is currently streaming on Netflix.
Continue Reading
Entertainment
Where the hell is Ana Navarro? Joy Behar unaware of “The View” cohost's location: 'We know not where' she is
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/joy-behar-tout-e7290f4f2ef54668b9c980630038c234.jpg)
Navarro also posted a cryptic Instagram message after Behar announced that the Republican panelist wasn’t on Friday’s show.
Entertainment
“Stand by Me” cast felt instant bond reuniting as adults after 40 years with 'bittersweet sadness' over missing costar
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/stand-by-me-Jerry-OConnell-River-Phoenix-Wil-Wheaton-Corey-Feldman-032726-85e786aa49f94d4ab882ce7e5ad363ee.jpg)
Former child stars Wil Wheaton, Jerry O’Connell, and Corey Feldman tell EW being back together has made them feel closer to late costar River Phoenix and “softened the blow” of their director’s death.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/jfk-bessette-tout-a0f2e64393314f71aa6d624908b55055.jpg)
The couple died alongside Carolyn’s sister Lauren in a plane crash on July 16, 1999.
Shia LaBeouf is showing a very different side of his relationship, just days after a tense public moment caught on camera. The actor was spotted in Los Angeles walking arm-in-arm with his girlfriend, appearing relaxed and affectionate as they crossed the street together. LaBeouf carried takeout containers and a drink, while his girlfriend casually sipped from a bottle and held onto his arm. Shia LaBeouf’s latest sighting painted a noticeably calmer picture of the couple following last week’s viral video that showed a much more heated exchange.
Shia LaBeouf Reunites With Girlfriend After Explosive Fight
The new outing comes shortly after footage surfaced of LaBeouf losing his temper during a confrontation with his girlfriend outside a restaurant in Rome. In the video, the actor could be heard shouting “F-ck off” during the argument, while his girlfriend appeared relatively unfazed by the outburst.
The clip continued to show LaBeouf yelling down the street as she walked away, adding to the intensity of the moment that quickly made headlines.
Despite the explosive nature of the argument, the couple’s latest appearance, as reported by TMZ, suggests they may have moved past the incident. Walking closely together and appearing at ease, the two seemed to be on good terms again, offering a stark contrast to the tension seen just days earlier.
The affectionate body language and casual outing hinted that whatever disagreement had taken place may already be behind them.
FKA Twigs Takes LaBeouf Back To Court Over NDA
The personal drama comes as LaBeouf faces renewed legal attention from his ex, FKA Twigs. The singer-songwriter has filed a new lawsuit challenging parts of a nondisclosure agreement tied to their previously settled case, claiming it is being used to silence her.
According to the filing, Twigs is asking the court to block enforcement of certain provisions, arguing that the agreement restricts her ability to speak not only about her own experiences but also about sexual violence more broadly.
Twigs’ legal team made it clear that the case carries broader implications beyond her individual situation. Barnett “files this action to right a wrong, and also on behalf of other women who are the victims of sexual and domestic violence who do not have the resources to speak out and defend themselves from predators,” attorney Mathew Rosengart wrote in the complaint.
He added that “In so doing, she seeks to ensure that survivors of sexual misconduct are not bullied or silenced like she was.”
Shia LaBeouf Reportedly Causing Tension With New Orleans Tennis Club Members
The latest headlines surrounding LaBeouf don’t stop there. The actor is also reportedly at the center of a separate situation in New Orleans, where he’s been accused of unsettling behavior by members of a local tennis club near his home.
As The Blast previously reported, members of the New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club were recently warned about a “new neighborhood resident whose continued outbursts have affected the club environment.” An insider claimed LaBeouf is the individual in question, alleging that he has been sitting on his porch across from one of the club’s exits and yelling at members as they come and go.
LaBeouf Breaks Silence After Mardi Gras Arrest
The reported incidents come just weeks after LaBeouf’s arrest during a Mardi Gras celebration.
“My behavior… I gotta deal with that. Does that mean I gotta go to rehab again? I’m just not into it, bro,” the actor said after his arrest made headlines. “I don’t think my answers are there. I don’t. I really, genuinely, don’t. If I genuinely did, I’d go. I don’t think I have a drinking problem. I think I have a different problem, and I’m gonna address it.”
He believes that he has “a small-man complex.”
Shia LaBeouf Taken Back Into Custody Following New Charge
Shia LaBeouf’s legal troubles didn’t end with his initial arrest. Shortly after his interview made headlines, the actor was reportedly taken back into custody after authorities issued a new warrant tied to the same February 17 altercation. He was charged with an additional misdemeanor count of simple battery.
According to reports, LaBeouf voluntarily turned himself in once the warrant was issued.
At this point in Anthony Mackie’s career, he’s best known for his role as Sam Wilson in the MCU. He first began his MCU career as a complementary piece to Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers, but he’s since stepped into his own as the new Captain America. He headlined his first solo movie last year with Captain America: Brave New World, and he’s set to star in a vital role later this year in Avengers: Doomsday, the first Marvel tentpole event film since 2019. Even in the years since his MCU career began, though, Mackie has starred in plenty of other projects that have received their due, either in theaters or on streaming. Back in 2024, Mackie teamed up with a fellow MCU star, Morena Baccarin, for Elevation. The alien invasion sci-fi film is currently streaming on HBO Max in America.
However, Elevation was far from the first sci-fi project Mackie starred in that wasn’t attached to the MCU. Back in 2020, Anthony Mackie took over the role that Joel Kinnaman originated in the second season of Altered Carbon, the hard sci-fi series set in a dystopian future where consciousness is digitized and stored. It follows a prisoner who wakes up in a new body and must solve a murder to win back his freedom. The show aired its first season starring Kinnaman in 2018, and it returned two years later with its sophomore outing starring Mackie, which was met with strong critical reception before being review-bombed by audiences. Still, despite all this mixed reception, Altered Carbon is still one of Netflix’s most popular watches, and the perfect weekend sci-fi binge for fans of great sci-fi TV shows.
Reunions Not a Moment Too Soonions — The Collider TV Quiz!
It’s always fun when actors from one show find their way back to one another in a new show. Were these television reunions memorable to you?
What Else Is Anthony Mackie Working On?
Before he returns in Avengers: Doomsday this year, Mackie has other projects in the works to be excited about. On April 24, he’ll return and star in a new action movie titled Desert Warrior, which co-stars Ben Kingsley. Mackie will also make his highly anticipated TV return in 12 12 12, a new series currently in post-production that’s expected to premiere before the end of this year, but it is still lacking an official release date. After he reprises his role as Sam Wilson in Avengers: Doomsday, he will also return in Avengers: Secret Wars one year later, all but assuring he’ll survive the first chapter of the war with Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.).
Check out both seasons of Altered Carbon on Netflix, and stay tuned to Collider for more streaming updates and coverage of Mackie’s future projects.
- Release Date
-
2018 – 2020-00-00
- Network
-
Netflix
- Directors
-
Alex Graves, Ciaran Donnelly, M.J. Bassett, Nick Hurran, Peter Hoar, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Uta Briesewitz, Jeremy Webb, Andy Goddard, Miguel Sapochnik
- Writers
-
Brian Nelson, Garrett Lerner, Russel Friend, Steve Blackman, Adam Lash, Laeta Kalogridis, Nevin Densham, Alison Schapker
Entertainment
Shop these Apple tech deals before Amazon’s Big Spring Sale ends — $100 AirPods, half-off Apple Watches, and more
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/ew-bss-apple-deals-tout-024e33e96e434e63bf91bdb76f621487.jpg)
Wireless MagSafe chargers are on sale, too.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/britney-spears-032726-7a3214c48e9b451982e18760b6476727.jpg)
The “Oops!… I Did It Again” singer was arrested on suspicion of a DUI in Ventura, Calif., on March 4.
Tom Hardy is, without question, one of the most famous action stars on the planet. However, he also has some other big roles that are more focused on his commanding performance and less on his ability to smash skulls. He gives one of his most famous performances opposite Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders, the hit British crime saga that ran for six seasons between 2013 and 2022. The franchise even returned with a feature film, now on Netflix, The Immortal Man, but Hardy has no role in the film, much to the disapproval of fans. Hardy also scored his first and only Oscar nod for his work in the critically acclaimed Western, The Revenant, which earned Leonardo DiCaprio the first Academy Award win of his career. He was recently seen opposite Pierce Brosnan in the hit crime series, MobLand, which hails from director Guy Ritchie and writer Ronan Bennett.
What many would argue is the most famous movie of Tom Hardy’s career, though, is Inception. The 2010 sci-fi thriller features other stars like Leonardo DiCaprio, Cillian Murphy, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and it follows a thief who steals corporate secrets from competitors using dream-sharing technology. However, things are flipped upside down when he has to use the technology to plant an idea, not steal one. Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film earned scores of 87% from critics and 91% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, and it grossed a whopping $839 million at the box office against a $160 million budget. Over 15 years later, Inception is back at the top of streaming charts on HBO Max in several countries around the world. It’s also a VOD smash hit in more than 15 countries.
Reunions Not a Moment Too Soonions — The Collider TV Quiz!
It’s always fun when actors from one show find their way back to one another in a new show. Were these television reunions memorable to you?
Is Tom Hardy Making Another ‘Venom’ Movie?
Tom Hardy is involved as a producer in an animated Venom movie that’s in the works at Sony, but it’s unclear at this time if he will reprise his role as Eddie Brock or if it will be recast with another actor. Hardy has played Eddie for three feature films, all of which were financial success stories, but this wasn’t enough to help Sony launch its SSU (Sony’s Spider-Man Universe). The franchise may have failed because it declined to include Spider-Man in any movies that are directly inspired by some of his greatest villains.
Check out Inception on HBO Max in America, and stay tuned to Collider for more streaming updates and coverage of Hardy’s future projects.
- Release Date
-
July 16, 2010
- Runtime
-
148 minutes
- Franchise(s)
-
Inception
Joseph Duggar’s only visitor in jail after he was arrested on child molestation charges has been revealed.
The Counting On alum’s attorney has been the sole person to visit Joseph in Washington County Correctional Facility, Page Six reported on Friday, March 27. No family members have visited Joseph, 31, per the outlet.
According to the outlet, Joseph has reportedly called two people while behind bars. The outlet reported he called his wife, Kendra Duggar, multiple times over the past week. Joseph also reportedly called a management consultant on March 19, but the call was not answered.
Joseph is currently being held in the correctional facility after he was arrested on March 18 for allegedly molesting a 9-year-old girl during a Florida vacation.
Joseph Duggar has reportedly been placed in a secure area of Arkansas’ Washington County Jail while awaiting extradition to Florida. TMZ reported in the early hours of Friday, March 20, that 31-year-old Joseph has “no access” to other inmates. Staff have been keeping Joseph “under constant watch” because of his status as a reality star, […]
“The victim reported Duggar repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap,” Bay City police said in a statement on Thursday. “As the vacation continued, he also asked her to sit next to him on a couch and covered them with a blanket. During this time, Duggar manipulated the victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals. Duggar would also continue to rub his hands on her thighs.”
The alleged victim, now 14, claimed in a police statement that Joseph “eventually apologized for his actions and the incidents stopped after the apology.”
Joseph remains in jail and is facing multiple charges, including two counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor.
Us Weekly confirmed days later that Joseph’s wife, Kendra Duggar, was arrested on Friday, March 20. She was released that same day on a $1,470 bond.
Joseph and Kendra, 27, are also both facing charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of second-degree false imprisonment.
A spokesperson for the Duggar family told Us in a statement, “[Kendra’s] is a misdemeanor charge totally unrelated to the Florida case.”
Joseph rose to fame as one of Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar’s 19 children. The pair also share Josh, Jana, John-David, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Josiah, Joy-Anna, Jedidiah, Jeremiah, Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah, Jennifer, Jordyn-Grace and Josie. The family’s life was featured on the TLC series 19 Kids and Counting as well as the spin-off, Counting On.
Joseph and Kendra fell in love after meeting at church. The couple tied the knot in September 2017 after getting engaged three months before. Joseph and Kendra share four children: sons Garrett and Justus and daughters Addison and Brooklyn.
Joseph is the second of Jim Bob and Michelle’s children to be arrested in recent years. Their eldest son, Josh, was sentenced in May 2022 to 12 years in prison for possession of child pornography.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
Netflix’s Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen hinges on a shocking twist — but what is the big reveal?
Before the show premiered on Thursday, March 26, Netflix teased it as a miniseries centered around an engaged couple whose wedding is derailed.
“Rachel and Nicky are engaged to be married in a week,” reads the synopsis. “Before they can tie the knot, though, something very bad happens to get in the way.”
Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen stars Camila Morrone, Adam DiMarco, Gus Birney, Karla Crome and Sawyer Fraser. Jeff Wilbusch, Ted Levine and Jennifer Jason Leigh make up the rest of the cast alongside Victoria Pedretti, Josh Hamilton and Logan Miller.
An emotional roller-coaster. From Riverdale‘s Cheryl and Toni to Nancy Drew‘s Nancy and Ace, fans have watched their favorite couples break hearts with some devastating splits. Riverdale, which premiered in 2017, originally introduced Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) as a grieving sister trying to deal with the death of her twin brother Jason (Trevor Stines). After striking […]
It takes half of the season for Rachel (Morrone) to discover that her family is cursed. She must marry her soulmate by sundown on her wedding day but if Nicky (DiMarco) isn’t The One, then she will die. If he is, she will live — or, if she chooses not to go through with the wedding, she will die and the curse will transfer to Nicky and his family.
The Witness (Zlatko Burić) is an immortal being who tries to warn Rachel after he leaves his wife at the altar and is cursed himself. Rachel ultimately tries to say “I do” to Nicky but he changes his mind. He agrees to the wedding — but then she backs out last minute.
In the series finale, members of Nicky’s family start bleeding out as a consequence. Rachel bleeds as well because she doesn’t actually believe in her and Nicky — who survives because he knows Rachel is his soulmate.
Rachel goes outside to die, except in a shocking twist, she instead trades places with Witness and is now in charge of watching over Nicky’s family to make sure they marry their soulmates — or else.
“There’s a difference between having a lot of love and someone being your person,” Morrone, 28, told Tudum this month about the ending. “Rachel’s person would wholeheartedly understand her, believe her neuroticism and skepticism, and hold space for her. … Nicky loves her and wants to, but he doesn’t actually understand.”
Creator Haley Z. Boston also broke down the conclusion.
“That [ending] scene is one of my favorite scenes in the whole show,” Boston shared. “I remember thinking, ‘How do I close these characters out?’ The show is about a breakup, ultimately. After you break up, there’s that moment of logistics. … At this point, Rachel is exhausted, and she’s just trying to get out of there. It felt like the perfect ending for them.”
She concluded: “Ultimately, I liked this idea of a death and a rebirth, and in order to get the rebirth, it felt natural that there was a mythological answer. [Rachel] has the curse, so she’s not off the hook, she has to be careful if she ever wants to get married and who she chooses.”
Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen is streaming on Netflix.
NewsBeat59 seconds ago
Ben White booed by England fans as second-string squad fails to impress Tuchel
Business2 minutes ago
Weekly Commentary: Lacking A Good Scenario
Entertainment4 minutes ago
Where the hell is Ana Navarro? Joy Behar unaware of “The View” cohost's location: 'We know not where' she is
-
NewsBeat3 days agoManchester United reach agreement with Casemiro over contract clause amid transfer speculation
-
News Videos2 days agoParliament publishes latest register of MPs’ financial interests
-
Crypto World6 days agoBest Crypto to Buy Now: Strategy Just Spent $1.57 Billion on Bitcoin During Fear While Early Investors Quietly Enter Pepeto for 150x Potential
-
Crypto World7 days agoBitcoin Price News: Bhutan Sells $72 Million in BTC Under Fiscal Pressure, but the Smart Money Entering Pepeto Sees What the Market Does Not
-
Sports5 days agoRemo Stars and Kano Pillars Strengthen Survival Hopes in NPFL
-
Sports5 days agoGary Kirsten Accuses Pakistan Cricket Board Of ‘Interference’, Mohsin Naqvi Responds
-
Business6 days agoNo Winner in March 21 Drawing as Prize Rolls to $133 Million for Next
-
Tech6 days agoGive Your Phone a Huge (and Free) Upgrade by Switching to Another Keyboard
-
Tech5 days agoAI enters the chat: New Seattle dating app relies on tech to facilitate meaningful human connections
-
News Videos5 days agoCh 9 Financial Management Part 1 | Detailed One Shot | Class 12 Business Studies Boards 2026
-
Tech6 days agoToday’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers for March 22 #1015
-
Business2 days agoInstagram, YouTube Found Responsible for Teen’s Mental Health Struggle in Historic Ruling
-
Business6 days agoWill Duke Basketball Win It All? Duke Basketball Enters Second Round as Third Favorite to Claim NCAA Title
-
Sports5 days ago2026 Kentucky Derby horses, odds, futures, preview, date: Expert who hit 12 Derby-Oaks Doubles enters picks
-
NewsBeat12 hours agoThe Story hosts event on Durham’s historic registers
-
NewsBeat6 days agoUpdate on Wisbech river crash as search for teenage boy enters fifth day
-
Entertainment5 days agoCynthia Bailey Dishes on ‘RHOA’ Season 17, Discusses Kandi
-
Tech5 days agoSamsung will soon let you control smart home devices from your car’s dashboard
-
Tech6 days agoSteamOS update adds support for Steam Machine and other non-Valve hardware
-
Business4 days agoMore women enter wealth management, but few in advisory roles: study
You must be logged in to post a comment Login