MovieChat Forums > Licorice Pizza (2021) Discussion > The attraction between the two

The attraction between the two

posted 2 years ago by Misty (218)
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Alana is fully aware that Gary is 15 years old, but she is still attracted to him. Why? One thing that intrigues her is that he is completely at home dealing with adults. As an actor, he has to deal with agents, actors and directors. Everyone knows him. He has an irresistable charm. He even has his mother working for him! He misses a chance to grab a business opportunity whether its selling water beds or opening a pinball palace.

Alana, on the other hand, comes across as stunted in her development. She does not know what she wants to do at 25. She even asks her sister if its weird that she is hanging out with Gary and his friends. She comes across as a teenager rather than a woman in her 20s.

[–] ecarle (14979) 2 years ago

All true, and key to the charm of the movie.

The first scenes are so crucial here.

Gary only gets a moment to "connect" with Alana once he exploits her job: she has to give him a comb and hold a mirror up for him to get ready for his photograph(Alana holds up the mirror without looking at him.) He tries some small talk that doesn't work and as she starts to walk away he says "Dinner tonight?" and THAT stops her. She's not agreeable to the proposition("Are you asking me out on a date...you're 12 years old!") but that gets her to the next point, demanding how he would pay for that date -- whereupon Gary reveals his acting career, which means he's an earner, and kind of famous...and Alana never leaves his side for the rest of the scene even as she insults him. She's INTRIGUED.

In the next scene, we see how loving and protective Gary is of his younger brother -- there is no father around, Gary is the co-breadwinner of the house with his mom. Gary also tells his brother, "I've met the girl I'm going to marry..and you're going to be the best man," reaffirming that Gary is a "good guy."

Next scene: Alana actually shows up for the "date" at the bar. Not much happens here but we can see her struggling with the fact that Gary got her this far.

Next scene: the date. In which Alana, indeed learns just how grown up and adult-friendly Gary is, and how driven. And Gary closes the deal AGAIN: "Next time I'm going to take you there (Japanese restaurant.) "Next time?" Alana says with a certain amused pleasure in Gary's confidence. We know: she'll go.

Next scene: Gary walks Alana almost home and asks for her phone number. She balks at first, but when she gives it and it seems Gary mis-remembers it(he's joking, he remembers it), Alana panics: she WANTS him to have that number.

CONT

[–] ecarle (14979) 2 years ago

Next scene: We meet Alana's father -- demanding to know where she's been and she's TWENTY FIVE -- and we meet all the women of the rest of the family, all huddled together on a couch watching TV together -- "failure to launch" for the older girls.

That first clutch of scenes skillfully establishes the attraction of Gary to Alana and Alana back to Gary; establishes his worldliness and her stunted growth -- and establishes them as soulmates that a whole movie full of rival men and women and boys and girls won't be able to beat.

Its a great movie.

[–] Misty (218) 2 years ago

I love everything that you mentioned. I forgot to add that Alana eventually ends up working for Gary when he starts selling waterbeds. He actually gives her a purpose and direction. She promotes and sells the beds. She even drives the truck that distributes the beds. When they have an argument and he tells her that were it not for him, she would still be working at Tiny Toes, she has no response. In many instances, he is the adult in the relationship.

[–] ecarle (14979) 2 years ago

Thank you

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I forgot to add that Alana eventually ends up working for Gary when he starts selling waterbeds. He actually gives her a purpose and direction.

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Absolutely. First he promotes her as an actress -- which by the way puts him at risk of losing her, first to Lance and then to Jack Holden.

But she signs right up as the "partner" on the waterbed business and it DOES give her purpose.

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She promotes and sells the beds. She even drives the truck that distributes the beds.

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Yep. And she tells her younger rival "I'm the manager here."

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When they have an argument and he tells her that were it not for him, she would still be working at Tiny Toes, she has no response.

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That's a mean remark from him, and it stops her in her tracks, but for whatever reason she was being very mean to him here. She now thinks that the council member gives her purpose and she says "You're worried about pinball machines. I'm a politician." As if that's a GOOD thing. And its funny -- she's a volunteer.

I think the argument scene is one of the best ones in the movie, because it has that unfocussed "why is THIS happening?" rage that young arguments do have.

Best: when Gary basically says he's leaving and he'll drive himself, Alana's voice suddenly shifts to "shaky and fearful"(great acting from Alana Haim) -- "No, wait, I'll drive you to see those stupid pinball machines." Alana yet again comes to realize how helpful Gary has been to her in her life.

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In many instances, he is the adult in the relationship

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Absolutely. Circumstances aged him -- no father on the premises, working as a child actor, working on other projects. Alana is 25 and, indeed, has no further career than helping kids get high school photos taken..And that home life...Gary was a Godsend and she rejects him for the politico.

But things work out in the end.

[–] liscarkat (16524) 2 years ago

A lot of women in their twenties and even thirties today still have the demeanor and immaturity of teenage girls. It's pathetic and off-putting.