Let’s get one thing out of the way right now – this week’s Crossroads podcast is not here to make fun of Britney Spears. We love Britney. She is a legend, an icon and a shining light. Back in 2002 she was at the peak of her pop career, so it was inevitable that attempts would be transition her into movie stardom.
It’s fair to say that of all Britney’s many talents, acting probably doesn’t rank terribly high. But cut her some slack – there’s only so much that anybody could have done with the material she’s given in Crossroads, and sharing the screen with talents like Zoe Saldana and Dan Ackroyd, she holds her own more successfully than you might expect. She’s no Cher of course, but she’s not really any better or worse than Whitney is in The Bodyguard.
Crossroads is undeniably a silly movie, but then it’s hardly aiming for any higher purpose. It’s essentially 90 minutes of product placement, from the frequent inserts of songs from Britney’s third album, to the way the characters seem to constantly be reaching for another can of cool, refreshing Pepsi.
It’s also surprisingly weird in places. Some of that just comes own to the time – the creepy sub-plot around Britney’s quest to lose her virginity and the near-constant shots of her in various states of undress certainly wouldn’t fly today, and with good reason. But it was also written by a pre-Grey’s Anatomy Shonda Rhimes, who manages to insert some truly bizarre twists into the final third of the movie.
So join us on this week’s episode, as we discuss all things Crossroads – from Britney’s peak denim phase to Dan Ackroyd’s sinister parenting style and Anson Mount’s disturbingly fragile masculinity. We also brainstorm drinking games, pitch sequel ideas and check in with our listeners for their reactions and nostalgic memories of the film.
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Next week, we go back to theme-free picks for a while, and it’s my turn to take a gamble. Until then, happy listening and remember – never get into a car with a suspected murderer, no matter how cute he might be.