Showgirls

1995

 

Elizabeth Berkley as Nomi Malone

Gina Gershon as Cristal Connors

Kyle MacLachlan as Zack Carey

Gina Ravera as Molly

Glenn Plummer as James Smith

Screenplay by Joe Eszterhas

Directed by Paul Verhoeven

 

Happy 47^th birthday to the ultimate showgirl, Elizabeth Berkley! She is the founder of a girls’ self-help website and organization called Ask Elizabeth; she creates life-changing connections with teen girls and helps self-esteem workshops and volunteers in schools. She is married to Greg Laurent (The Wedding Planner).

 

Nomi Malone is a drifter, heading to Las Vegas, hopeful that she can make it big and that all of her dreams will come true. She doesn’t start out very strong, however, getting ditched by the driver who picked her up on the highway. She finds a sympathetic ear, if not a friend, in Molly, a seamstress for a Vegas show, and goes to her new home. Soon, Nomi starts “dancing” at a strip club, and her star begins to rise. Eventually, she becomes the headliner of a topless show at the Stardust hotel, but fame always has its price.

 

Showgirls has become a cult classic, but it’s not very good. Berkley acts the CRAP out of her role, but damn. She’s running at 110% the whole film, and it’s clearly excessive. Like her lips. Just sayin’. Some memorable moments:

• Nomi’s audition at the Stardust to be a backup dancer. Oh, dancers don’t wear clothes? Oh, dancers in a topless show need to be judged on their athleticism? It’s a T&A scene, to be sure. And Nomi is ALL OVER THE PLACE. Yikes.
• The seduction scene in the pool. Also yikes. There’s a lot more <ahem> movement than you would expect for a sexy-time scene. Not sure if sexy time was actually achieved…
• James’ dance for Nomi. Was he flirting with her? Hitting on her? Everything is so overblown in this movie! I just don’t KNOW!

Weepy Meter: 0/10 Maybe worth a 1 if you cry when things are painful to watch.

Man Meter: 6/10 Again, it’s a T&A flick. If he’s a discerning fan, or a connoisseur of the finer things, he probably won’t be caught dead watching it, unless you supply the edibles/shots/whatever you choose to dull the pain.

Overall Rating: 4/10 I’m sorry, but I just CAN’T with the overacting. Gina Gershon (Riverdale; P.S. I Love You) is the one shining light here.

 

Photo credit: © Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.