Party Girl Movie Review

The onscreen presence of Parker Posey is among the bright spots of moviegoing in the 1990s. Posey poured gallons of energy into many indie flicks of the decade; Party Girl was her chance to break out of background roles into genuine leading status. The success of the Party Girl movie led to a very short-lived television series starring Christine ("Marcia") Taylor of The Brady Bunch films. So whatever her critics may say about Parker Posey, she gave Daisy von Scherler Mayer's debut film a stylish edge that definitely lingers in the mind. As Mary, Posey is broke and headed nowhere fast when her godmother (played by Sasha von Scherler, the director's mum) reluctantly gives her a chance in a library job. Mary learns the Dewey Decimal System as if her life depended on it. Ditzy characters, sharp dialogue, and the eccentric party scene all contribute to the lively ambiance, but it's Parker Posey's high-voltage performance that makes filing books and picking up Mustafa the falafel vendor (Omar Townsend) seem vital. Very good repeat value on this one.

1994 (R) 94m/C Parker Posey, Omar Townsend, Anthony De Sando, Guillermo Diaz, Sasha von Scherler, Liev Schreiber; D: Daisy von Scherler Mayer; W: Harry Birckmayer, Daisy von Scherler Mayer; C: Michael Slovis; M: Anton Sanko. VHS, LV, Closed Caption