Superstar (1999)

Mary Katharine Gallagher is a nerdy Catholic schoolgirl who from a young age dreams of one day being a superstar, so she can be kissed by a handsome movie star. She becomes the rewind girl at the video store and often expresses her emotions by using a film or television movie as an example. When she first sees Sky Corrigan, she wants to be kissed by him more than anything, but he unfortunately has a girlfriend; a snotty self-centered cheerleader named Evian. When her school announces that they're going to have a talent contest, Mary knows that could be her big chance to win Sky's affections. But her grandmother objects to it at first, because she wants Mary to be a businesswoman, but Mary insists that all she wants to be is a superstar. Despite that she still helps her, along with Mary's friends in her special education class, practicing dancing steps. A very funny movie; Molly Shannon's Saturday Night Live character is great fun to watch. Starring Molly Shannon, Will Ferrell, Elaine Hendrix, Harland Williams, Mark McKinney, Tom Green 7/10

Staying Alive (1983)

Six years after Saturday Night Fever, Tony Manero is back in this sequel to the smash hit. This time Tony has moved to Manhattan and has changed his ways; he doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, doesn't curse and is trying to make it as a dancer. The only problem is he can't even get his foot in the door. When he goes to see his girlfriend Jackie perform in a show, he notices another girl named Laura whom he thinks is an incredible dancer. He tells her so and invites her to have coffee with him sometime. He tells her that he's a dancer as well and she suggests auditioning for a Broadway show. They also end up having a one-night stand, but Tony soon realizes that she is a shallow, self-centered, heartless witch. He goes back to Jackie and begs her to take him back but she can't because she's tired of him treating her like second choice. He eventually gets a part in the show, but working alongside Laura causes tension. This film is obviously not as terrific as Saturday Night Fever, but still entertaining, with more great songs from The Bee Gees. Starring John Travolta, Cynthia Rhodes, Finola Hughes, Julie Bovasso, Steve Inwood, Kurtwood Smith, Frank Stallone 7/10

American Graffiti (1973)

On the last night of the summer in 1962, high school grads Curt and Steve spend one final night cruising the strip at Burger City with their buddies before they go off to college. But Curt is having second thoughts, while Steve is having problems with his girlfriend Laurie, Curt's sister who thinks that seeing other people while he's away would strengthen their relationship. Meanwhile Curt searches for a beautiful blond he saw in a White T-Bird, and their two other friends John and Terry also have a wild night; John is forced to chauffeur a little girl and a guy named Bob Falfa is looking to challenge him to a drag race. Terry is asked to look after Steve's car and picks up a girl, but it's more than he can handle when the car gets stolen and he gets beaten up. With a great soundtrack and a terrific cast of characters, this film is truly and American classic. Starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Harrison Ford, Wolfman Jack 8/10

Fight Club (1999)

Edward Norton plays an automobile company employee suffering from insomnia. He attends support groups and pretends he has life-threatening illnesses so he can let out whatever emotions he wants to get out, which helps him to sleep better. Until a young woman named Marla Singer enters his life and ruins everything by attending the support groups as well, and in turn his insomnia returns. He also meets a soap salesman named Tyler Durden on a plane. When the insomniac's condo blows up, he calls Tyler and asks to stay with him. Tyler lives in a large dilapidated house in an abandoned part of town. Together they form a secret fight club for young males to help vent their aggression. Both Norton and Pitt are phenomenal in this cult classic. Starring Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham Carter, Meat Loaf, Zach Grenier, Jared Leto 8/10

True Romance (1993)

Clarence Worley, a great admirer of Elvis "The King" Presley meets hooker Alabama Whitman one night when he's watching a ninja film at the movie theater. Afterward they go out for a piece of pie, get to know each other and before long become lovers. But Alabama doesn't confess that she's a call girl until after they sleep together. She promises him that she'll never lie to him again. So they fall crazy in love and get married. Clarence visits her pimp to collect her things but finds out later on that the suitcase he took isn't her clothes but full of cocaine. So Clarence tries to sell it in Hollywood, while the owners of the coke track them down and try to reclaim it back. My favorite of Quentin Tarantino's films, both Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette make a wonderful Romeo-and-Juliet-type couple, while the supporting cast is also top-notch. Starring Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Christopher Walken, Bronson Pinchot, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Rapaport, James Gandolfini, Chris Penn, Tom Sizemore 8/10