maturing like a fine wine

Rating: 7/10 (2 January 2005)

I remember watching this when it first came out and it was OK but nothing special. Recently I came across a copy and gave it a second viewing, and found it a great laugh and a very pleasurable way to spend eighty-odd minutes. In a time when so many people in the entertainment business take themselves so seriously it is great to watch the five girls make fun of themselves, they knew their acting ability was minimal, except perhaps for Geri, who may have a future in this field. The plot works on several levels, on one hand it can be seen as pure slapstick but also their are more serious threads running through it, such as press intrusion, media distortion of offhand comments (such as Geri's remark about the pope) and the girl's dilemma of balancing their responsibilities between their management and loyalty to a friend (Nicola). This film came out at a time when you couldn't watch TV or open a paper without seeing articles about the Spice Girls, I think many people were put off the girls by this and hence the negative reaction to the film initially. If you can watch this with an open mind just sit back and allow your self to have a laugh at the comedy, enjoy the music and perhaps take on board some of the serious questions the film poses.