Troop Beverly Hills (1989)
from Reel Deep Dive Hosted by Ryan Valentine
Troop Beverly Hills is a late 1980's comedy centering on a privileged housewife (Shelley Long) taking a position as the leader of her daughter's Wilderness Girls group. This is initially so she can demonstrate her resolve to her estranged husband (Craig T. Nelson), but she gradually bonds with her child (Jenny Lewis), forms connections with the other girls, and develops a rivalry with the Culver City troop run by the conniving Velda Plendor (Betty Thomas). Troop Beverly Hills received a critical drubbing and it bombed in theaters, but it built an appreciative cult audience among millennial girls due to constant broadcasts on basic cable throughout the 1990's. It is now often seen as a fun, campy time capsule of 80's fashion and unapologetic girliness. Ryan is joined by Sylvan, Cheryl, and Pete for an examination of this kitschy gem. Discussion topics include the film's approach to feminism, class struggle, and story structure. Ryan, ever the killjoy, points out the sobering parallels between the movie's references to the Marcos dictatorship and the recent (as of the recording) election of Bongbong Marcos.
Embed this episode
No transcript yet.