"How to Talk to Girls at Parties" Rockin' Movie Review

Scream against the establishment with A24's How to Talk to Girls at Parties!

How to Talk to Girls at Parties is based on Neil Gaiman's short story of the same name. Take a trip to 70's-era London right around the time of Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee and get ready to rock--punk rock, that is. Enn (Alex Sharp) and his friends Vic (Abraham Lewis) and John (Ethan Lawrence) do everything in the spirit of the British punk scene. Enn creates zines, Vic cares little about the festivities, and they all shout out lyrics in crowded basement clubs whenever they can sneak in.

It's a regular night for the friends when some strange music pricks their ears. They follow the sounds to a party with out-of-this-world teens doing out-of-this-world things. Literally. What they don't know is that the teens at this party are actually extraterrestrials visiting from another planet. Enn wanders around and meets Zan (Elle Fanning), a teen with some rebellious ideas bubbling inside her. Zan follows Enn out of the party and into the world to learn more about "the punk" and Croydon.

Love happens fast and Enn has a little less than a weekend before she'll have to head back. But will she choose to go, or will love and rock prevail?

It's a punk rock movie with a punk rock message about punk rock love!

Two people reviewing music at a record store. — Image by A24

The first thing I thought after seeing How to Talk to Girls at Parties is that it will likely be a cult classic. Director John Cameron Mitchell does a great job at sticking viewers right in the middle of the punk movement in 1977 London. The music, the vibe, the characters, it all gets in your bones and stays there. The whole film was immersive--so much so, I found myself getting teary at the end scene. It's a great story about being an individual and going against expectations to what is right, what makes you happy, and what will positively impact the future.

It's also a movie about love. Not just monogamous love and parental love, but all types. How to Talk to Girls at Parties is an interesting film that starts out fun and leaves you thinking with a smile by the end. If you want a throwback to the British punk rock scene, or just want to see something out of the ordinary, check out How to Talk to Girls at Parties!