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Valley Girl is a romantic comedy movie that came out in 1983, directed by Martha Coolidge, and considered a cult classic from the 80s. The movie is set in Southern California, where the super cool, groovy Valley girls reign supreme, and the movie follows their lives of parties, shopping, and hanging out. The movie stars Nicolas Cage, Deborah Foreman, and Elizabeth Daily, who make up the main cast.

The movie is based on two young adults from opposite worlds, Julie Richman (Deborah Foreman), who hails from the upper-class suburbs of California, and Randy (Nicolas Cage), who comes from Hollywood, which follows a Romeo and Juliet-esque plotline. They meet at a party in the San Fernando Valley, where they initially hit it off until their friends and lifestyle differences drive a wedge between them. Randy is a punk, who is musically inclined and has a rebellious streak, whereas Julie, her friends, and her boyfriend, Tommy (Michael Bowen), have everything in life except access to this “punk" subculture.

In the midst of a family crisis, Julie decides to break out of her sheltered life and experience something new. But when she meets Randy, his bad boy demeanor and rough edges scare her at first. However, she realizes he is the real deal and is genuinely interested in getting to know her for who she is, not where she comes from. With the help of her tight-knit group of girlfriends, including Loryn (Elizabeth Daily), Julie sheds her Valley Girl persona and embraces this emerging punk world. As their romance blossoms, they go on a whirlwind adventure in Los Angeles, visiting punk clubs, going on dates, and eventually falling in love.

The movie is full of lively music and energetic performances from the cast, which perfectly captures the essence of the 80s. The soundtrack features classic songs such as “I Melt With You” and “Eighth Day” by Oingo Boingo, as well as "Girls Like Me" by Bonnie Hayes and "Angst in my Pants" by Sparks, to name a few. The soundtrack was an essential part of the movie, and it became a cult classic among music lovers.

The film's style and subject matter epitomize the Valley Girl subculture, from the fashion to the language, which can be a bit confusing for viewers who are not familiar with the culture. The movie's writers, Wayne and Terence, use a lot of slang specific to the time, which may take a bit of getting used to, but ultimately adds to the authenticity of the film.

Nicolas Cage cemented his reputation as one of the most exciting young actors in Hollywood with his portrayal of Randy, the charismatic, misunderstood punk. Cage throws himself completely into the role, going full-on punk with his exaggerated dancing, wacky persona and unpredictable behavior. He took the character to the extreme, which made him stand out from the rest of the cast.

Deborah Foreman gives a commendable performance as Julie, capturing the character's growth and evolution throughout the movie. She starts out as a Valley girl who has everything, including a great relationship with her boyfriend, but ultimately realizes that something is missing. Foreman does an exceptional job of portraying the transformation of a character from a privileged and entitled high school student to someone who learns the value of being herself and accepting those who differ from her.

Elizabeth Daily (who later voiced Tommy Pickles on the hit animated series Rugrats) also turns in a sparkling performance as Loryn, Julie’s outspoken best friend who tries to encourage her to explore new things, including the punk scene. Daily brings a lot of energy and humor to the role, making it easy for audiences to connect with her character.

Unlike most movies from the 80s, Valley Girl holds up well to this day, and it is still a fun romantic-comedy to watch. The movie is an essential part of the 80s culture, and it’s the perfect celebration of teenage rebellion, falling in love, and the adventurous spirit of youth.

Valley Girl is a 1983 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4 and a MetaScore of 66.