What's really gross about 'Showgirls' isn't that it's sexist, shallow or poorly acted... that's the good part! What's gross is that this is what it's creators think is sexy. Everyone involved has immature and "dirty" ideas about sex which makes the whole effort juvenile. Who wants to see Nomi finger herself during her monthly? Who on the planet wants to see Kyle Maclachlan naked, bang any living thing with that stupid, stupid '80s hairdo? Would you want to see Bea Arthur having sex? That's about how little I want to see Smiley McWonderchin in anything resembling a sexual position. It's troubling with a super-high EWWW! factor to see other people try to seriously depict what they think is sexy, when the most comprehensive encyclopedia of "sexy" you could imagine would still not have room for what they're doing. Nomi's volatility is sexy? or she's a shrieking, combative sociopath?
You know how in rock movies, nothing is ever less cool than when the "cool" band finally performs, and you just sit there wincing at how bad it is? This is the "sex" corollary. Nothing is less sexy, than people who think they're sexy (and who think they're making a sexy movie) failing at both. And frankly if you've ever seen Joe Esterhaus, you really have no interest in what he thinks is sexy. Joe's 'sexy' is your 'sleazy.' Not to knock sleazy, which can be fun, but even Joe's sleaze isn't very imaginative or arousing.
You could catch a popular live show called 'Sock Puppet Showgirls' a few years ago. It was deeper and sexier than this movie, because of course, a sock has a much greater acting range than Elizabeth Berkley.
You know how in rock movies, nothing is ever less cool than when the "cool" band finally performs, and you just sit there wincing at how bad it is? This is the "sex" corollary. Nothing is less sexy, than people who think they're sexy (and who think they're making a sexy movie) failing at both. And frankly if you've ever seen Joe Esterhaus, you really have no interest in what he thinks is sexy. Joe's 'sexy' is your 'sleazy.' Not to knock sleazy, which can be fun, but even Joe's sleaze isn't very imaginative or arousing.
You could catch a popular live show called 'Sock Puppet Showgirls' a few years ago. It was deeper and sexier than this movie, because of course, a sock has a much greater acting range than Elizabeth Berkley.