Spice World (1997)

The critic praises the film as an uproarious, self-referential pantomime that cleverly dramatizes celebrity and fame in a topical, sophisticated way, comparing it favorably to A Hard Day's Night as an important 1990s document of post-modernity.

The bright and breezy movie is as timely but evanescent as the Cool Britannia culture it celebrates and will delight the band's pre-pubescent fans while recalling fond memories of the '60s. Direction is unfussy and the music segments are pacily cut, making it more than just an extended music video.

The film is about four months too late and four stars too short to be a four-star movie, with post-production issues leaving it barely competent on a technical level. Cameo appearances and the cast fail to impress or elevate the material.

The movie suffers from musical timidity and nearly every scene falls on its nose despite the director's background. It makes no bones about the absurdity of the Spice Girls' success and absorbs any criticism in the course of the picture.

The film is essentially a showcase for the Spice Girls' hits, clothes, hairdos and lollipops with only the barest semblance of a story line. It has occasional knowing, funny gags but too often looks washed-out and flat, though the stars radiate energy, color and good cheer.

The critic finds the film a flappy, silly and ultimately dismal effort that fails to capture any real energy or substance from the Spice Girls, highlighting their dullness on screen and especially criticizing Victoria Beckham's performance.

The critic enjoys the film as a daft, breezy, shonky and entertaining watch despite its flaws and cash-in origins, praising its fun factor over technical quality.

The film is not a traditional good movie but holds strong entertainment value as a nostalgic '90s artifact. It praises the movie's fun, meta take on the Spice Girls' rise and its cultural impact despite initial critical pans.

The critic finds the film cluttered with too many subplots and ideas that don't cohere, making it a mess despite its ambitions to satirize celebrity like A Hard Day's Night. They single out for praise the fun, goofy moments when the Spice Girls are together front and center.