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Cry-Baby (1990)

Director:
John Waters
COUNTRY
USA
GENRE
Comedy/Musical
NORWEGIAN TITLE
Cry-Baby
RUNNING TIME
85 minutes
Producer:
Rachel Talalay
Screenwriter:
John Waters


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Cry-Baby Johnny Depp ½
Allison Vernon-Williams Amy Locane
Ramona Rickettes Susan Tyrell
Mrs. Vernon-Williams Polly Bergen ½
Uncle Belvedere Iggy Pop
Pepper Walker Ricki Lake
Wanda Woodward Traci Lords
Hatchet-Face Kim McGuire
Guard Willem Dafoe

 

Review

John Waters toys with the Grease-culture as well as the Randal Kleiser film itself in this alleged parody. But beneath the burlesque veil, Cry-Baby is all but completely empty. For a controversial and auteuristic filmmaker, Waters has remarkably little to say, and his rendition of the 1950s is neither charming nor pinpointed - it's just a series of overblown vignettes tied together by a hapless cast of caricatures. A sensationally beautiful Johnny Depp honing his acting-skills is the only real interest here, whereas the amiable musical numbers are the least dull and most cheerful parts of the film. The silly and unfocused plot is best left forgotten, but Waters is actually much more at home showing off his hammy romance than he is when trying to be clever, such as with his take on Sweden or the stupid chicken-race.

Copyright © 7.9.2007 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

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