lovable, enjoyable, hilarious

Rating: Null/10 (5 August 2000)

First off, I'm a 21 year-old, so when this movie came out, it was smack targeted at my age-group, which in fact, should've ended(probably did) that 'target'with people in their mid-twenties.
The one bad thing I have to say is...sorry, but, I'm one of the few people who don't like Liv Tyler. Guys, I tried. Maybe someday, I will, but it hasn't gotten to that stage yet. this means that, to me, anybody could've played the part of "Cory". But this leads me to the next good thing about this movie.
See, Allan Moyle just uses actors as pions to the mood he wants to invoke. It doesn't mean that all his characters are realistic, but many times, they are. For example, the typical, "lost soul" kind of girl who can't find her mom, treats people like garbage, and tries to commit suicide, is cliche because it's been covered countless times in the past. But the attitude it gives us about her, almost like, 'if you don't just think about yourself, and get some humor into your life, pieces will come together' is strikingly original. Same with the other characters. I'm sure you already knows that this is directed by Allan Moyle, same guy who directed "Pump Up The Volume." You can sense the similarities, one of them being the cool effects that peer togetherness/pressure can bring, in Pump Up The Volume it was Slater's fans, in this flick, towards the end, all the young peers who have probably only HEARD of how cool Empire Records is, go there and raise money and help it out. In short, this is done to create Empire Records as a cult hit.
Okay, now cool quotes."Lucas, where's the money?" Joe, the money is gone. "Where's it gone to?" "U-h-h...Atlantic City." "Really. What's it DOING in Atlantic City?!" "...recirculating?" "Lucas-" "Joe" Lucas-""Joe" (then, about the owner) "Lucas, I told Mitchell, you forgot to deposit the money. I told him it was still in the safe!" "Joe that's not true, it's in Atlantic City...I swear!"
and then, when Empire Records is about to become Music Town, Gina (Renee Zellweger) and Debra(the "lost soul" girl) are reading the rules
Deb- "no tattoos or piercing." Gina- "No revealing clothing." D- "we're both screwed. At least you're used to it. G-0h, Deb. Don't be bitter. I'm sure with your ever growing collection of flesh-mutilating appendages and your new Neo-Nazi bootcamp makeover, the boys'll come-a-runnin'. D- "Let's not fight, let's just rip."
And don't even get me started on the soundtrack!!
5 out of 4 stars
See it now! Please.