Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza is a hilariously frenzied coming of age romp with brilliant performances all-round. Yes, this is one “PTA joint” that does not disappoint! The dialogue-heavy character interactions are a genuine pleasure to watch. It’s as farcical as it is genuine. It’s as heartwarming as it is cringeworthy. It’s, well, just plain hysterical most of the time. Not everyone will be laughing at everything mind you, as there are some pretty un-PC moments from John Michael Higgins’ Jerry at the expense of an Asian character. It’s not played to be mean spirited though, as it’s basically showing how much of a doofus this character really is. One thing we can all agree on, however, is that Bradley Cooper is an absolute late in the game scene stealer. As a coked-up Hollywood playboy, Cooper’s manic mindset is truly palpable. Speaking of profound, the connection (and chemistry) between our two leads is undeniable. You’d think Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman have been in each other’s lives for years – it’s that sincere of a pairing. The retro 70s setting will also take a certain audience back in time with nostalgia overload. That is to say that there’s some really exquisite detail paid to the clothing and production design here. It all harkens back to the look of Anderson’s other 70s-set classic, Boogie Nights. Of course, this is far more of a playful film than that one. So playful in fact, that you’ll undoubtably want to join the gang onscreen for all their schemes and shenanigans. I guess we’ll have to settle for the next best thing: watch as it all wonderfully unfolds onscreen.