There are wildly divurgent opinions on this one. I'm a huge huge fan of Something Weird video, nudies, roughies grindhousies trash pre porn junk so this was all set to be right up my alley. I don't tend to read alot of reviews prior to seeing a movie but as best as I can tell this movie p**sed people off because it's "campy" but not
really campy. It's like double reverse not campy so to these people the whole movie doesn't work at all. Maybe that's not it, what the hell do I know feel free to comment.
Anyway, I loved Viva. No, it is not 100% faithfull in honoring Russ Meyer, Doris Wishman and co. I could list a dozen faults, the neighbor guy is too over the top and Ron Burgandy-ish. Many if not most parts look more like a SNL skit than an actual exploitation flick. The camera angles are dull. The pacing isn't always the greatest over it's two hour running time. In particular, Barbies big escape from suburbia doesn't really explode the way you want it too.
I have to say though, I watch alot of homeade, labor of love type indy movies and this is the best one I've seen in a long time. Retro hasn't been nailed like this since "Hairspray". Biller and her blonde co star look absolutely incredible. No, outside of casting themselves in this movie they couldn't get hired as models. heck they couldn't get hired as secrataries at a modeling agency. Heck they couldn't get hired as cleaning ladies, but they are pure all american pre aerobic sexy and that's what Viva is all about. It may be an ironic weirdly some new kind of feminist sexploitation flick but it's still a sexploitation flick.
Really though, It is mostly about drinking. Man do they drink alot in this movie. First thing in the morning blonde woman sits down by the pool with a glass of whiskey and a playboy "coffee and the newspaper" every one laughs. I think just about everyone in every single scene is drinking!
Anna Biller (director and star) is my new hero: sitting in the tub smoking a cigarette, drinking a glass of red wine, reading an Italian fashion magazine or something I can't remember. That's probably how she wrote this script.
Warning: Alot of people HATE this movie. I am not known for having a clue what people like so be warned it might not at all be your cup of Dewarrs. Also, watch out for male genitalia.
5/5
