Continue to Hollywoodlife () SKIP AD
Hollywood Life Logo Image

Hollywood Life

Today's Top Stories

  • Keyshia Cole
    Watch

    Keyshia Cole Gets Dragged On Twitter For Being Late To VERZUZ With Ashanti

  • Joe Biden Oval Office
    Before & After Pics

    Joe Biden’s Oval Office Makeover: See How He Erased Donald Trump from White House

  • michelle obama
    SHOP

    Shop The Hair Iron Simliar To The One Used To Get Michelle Obama’s Iconic Hairstyle

Hollywood Life
  • Home
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Celebrity Bios
  • Beauty
  • Fashion
  • Shopping
  • Celebrity News
  • World News
  • Exclusives
  • Politics
  • Celebrity Babies
  • Opinions
ALL NEWS
  • Emily Ratajkowski

    Pregnant Stars Rocking Bathing Suits & Baby Bumps — See Pics Of Emily Ratajkowski & More

  • Celebrities With Coronavirus: Stars Who Have Tested Positive For COVID-19

  • Joe Biden’s Oval Office Makeover: See How He Erased Donald Trump from White House – Before & After Pics

  • Award Shows
  • At The Movies
  • TV
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Holidays
  • Entertainment Features
  • Podcast
  • Oscar Contenders
ALL ENTERTAINMENT
  • Keyshia Cole

    Keyshia Cole Gets Dragged On Twitter For Being Late To VERZUZ With Ashanti – See Diddy’s Comment & More

  • ‘Total Bellas’: Nikki Struggles With Jealousy As Artem Succeeds On ‘DWTS’ With Kaitlyn Bristowe

  • ‘Legacies’: Danielle Rose Russell Teases Hope’s ‘Desperation To Save Landon’ In ‘Darker’ Season 3

  • Taylor Swift
  • Rihanna
  • Selena Gomez
  • Kim Kardashian
  • Kylie Jenner
  • Kendall Jenner
  • Justin Bieber
  • Miley Cyrus
  • Gigi Hadid
  • Khloe Kardashian
  • Jennifer Lopez
  • Angelina Jolie
  • Harry Styles
  • Kourtney Kardashian
ALL CELEBRITY BIOS
  • Emily Ratajkowski

    Pregnant Stars Rocking Bathing Suits & Baby Bumps — See Pics Of Emily Ratajkowski & More

  • Celebrities With Coronavirus: Stars Who Have Tested Positive For COVID-19

  • Keyshia Cole Gets Dragged On Twitter For Being Late To VERZUZ With Ashanti – See Diddy’s Comment & More

  • Fragrance
  • Hair Care
  • Health
  • Makeup
  • Nails
  • Beauty Features
  • Skincare
  • Makeover
  • Diet & Fitness
ALL BEAUTY
  • body wash

    6 Must-Have Body Washes That Smell Delicious & Will Keep Your Skin Clean & Hydrated This Winter

  • Shop The Hair Iron Simliar To The One Used To Get Michelle Obama’s Iconic Hairstyle

  • This Foot Peel Mask With Over 9,000 Reviews Will Give You Soft, Smooth Feet & It’s 38% Off

  • Red Carpet
  • Weddings
  • Fashion Features
  • Shopping
ALL FASHION
  • Teresa Giudice

    Teresa Giuduce, Hailey Baldwin, Gigi Hadid & More Out In Comfy, Matching 2-Piece Outfits: See Pics 

  • Kylie Jenner Stuns In Racy Dress While Vacationing At $6,500 Per Night Getaway In Mexico – See Pic

  • Celebrities Wearing UGGs: See Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez & More Rocking The Classic Cozy Boots

  • Share This Article
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Email
  • Print
  • Talk
Next Up

‘Pump Rules’ Star Tom Schwartz Debuts Hair Makeover After Wife Katie Dyes It Red — See Pics

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Newsletters
  • Search Close

Trending

  • Bonnie Says
  • Celeb Babies
  • TV
  • Celeb Galleries
  • Presidential Inauguration
Search

NewsExpand Menu

  • Celebrity News
  • World News
  • Exclusives
  • Politics
  • Celebrity Babies
  • Opinions
  • Rock The Vote

EntertainmentExpand Menu

  • Entertainment Features
  • TV
  • Award Shows
  • At The Movies
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Podcast
  • At Home With...

BeautyExpand Menu

  • Fragrance
  • Hair Care
  • Health
  • Makeup
  • Nails
  • Skincare
  • Beauty Features
  • Diet & Fitness
  • Shopping

FashionExpand Menu

  • Red Carpet
  • Weddings
  • Fashion Features
  • Shopping

TrendingExpand Menu

  • Bonnie Says
  • TV
  • Celeb Galleries
  • Presidential Inauguration

About UsExpand Menu

  • About Us
  • Writer Bios
  • Scoops, Tips & Corrections
  • Subscribe To Newsletter
  • Contact Us

Celebrity ProfilesExpand Menu

  • Kim Kardashian
  • Kylie Jenner
  • Justin Bieber
  • Selena Gomez
  • Taylor Swift
  • Rihanna
  • Kendall Jenner
  • Miley Cyrus
  • Gigi Hadid
  • Jennifer Lopez
  • Angelina Jolie
Follow Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Newsletters
Alerts & Newsletters
  • Jobs
  • Scoops & Corrections
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • California Privacy Rights
  • AdChoices
  • Data Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
© 2021 Penske Media Corporation
  • Entertainment
  • At The Movies
Exclusive Interview
May 8, 2020 10:30AM EDT

Josh Whitehouse: The ‘Valley Girl’ Remake Respects The Original But Has A ‘Different Energy’  

_1T25120.RAF
_1T26592.RAF
_2T27697.RAF
_1T25755.RAF View Gallery View Gallery 7 Photos.
Avery Thompson
Entertainment Director
  • Share This Article
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Email
  • Print
  • Talk

‘Valley Girl’ is getting a musical spin. HL spoke with Josh Whitehouse about remaking the 1983 cult classic, his favorite musical numbers, Randy and Julie’s love story, and more.

The ’80s are making a comeback with the Valley Girl remake. This new version of Valley Girl is a delightful musical adaptation that features some of the best ’80s music from The Go-Go’s, Cyndi Lauper, and more. However, the heart of Valley Girl is still Randy and Julie’s love story. HollywoodLife talked EXCLUSIVELY with Josh Whitehouse, who plays Randy, about taking over the role Nicolas Cage made famous and how the 2020 film isn’t a direct carbon-copy of the original.

“I think especially the fact that it’s told through the memory of Julie talking to her daughter about what life was like in the ’80s it kind of it gives it permission I think to be remade because I’d be the first to say this is a classic movie [and] we shouldn’t be making it,” Josh told HollywoodLife. “When I watched the original, I was like… This is kind of great. Does it need remaking? But the more I read the script and just how different it was really kind of set it in a different tone for me, and it gave it a different energy. I love the fact that the remake is done in Julie’s memory. I think that would be how she’d remember it, looking back on everyone singing and dancing and all of that kind of stuff. I think that really sets it aside from the original. But I think we also all tried to pay as much respect as we could to the original. I mean, obviously, trying to fill Nicolas Cage’s boots and playing a character that he broke out in as well was intimidating to me when I first heard about it, but I couldn’t view it like that. I wanted to absorb some of his performance, but I also really wanted to make it my own thing and step into my own with it.”

Randy is a part of many musical numbers throughout the film. Josh is a musician and an actor, so being able to use all of his skills in Valley Girl was both “mind-blowing fun” and a “big challenge.” Josh revealed there are a few musical numbers that really stand out to him. “I think the first one that comes to mind is ‘Bad Reputation’ because that was the one where we’re really being introduced to the punks in their rawest format,” Josh said. “It’s such a high contrast to the Val Girl kind of world in the movie. Everything’s so bright and colorful and then all of a sudden you’re down in the ditch with the punks thrashing around and mashing and just being kind of raucous. I thought that kind of raw energy was really fun to play and sort of set the stamp on the different worlds because it’s so heightened. But then I also really loved doing ‘Take On Me.’ I love the arc as well in the music that kind of occurs throughout the film. In Randy’s eyes, he definitely softens up in the songs he’s playing. He becomes more romantic with what he’s choosing to sing about, and at the beginning of the movie, he just doesn’t care what anybody thinks. But by the end of it, he’s in love with this girl. So there were definitely elements to the songs that were really enjoyable but on ‘Take On Me’ we got to use this carousel. For me, I guess like everybody else with their songs, there was an awful lot of choreography, people dancing, tons of extras, and so much going on. For Randy being punk, he was generally just sort of jumping off something or sliding down a thing or causing trouble. It was really fun for me doing ‘Take On Me’ that we got to do a little more of the choreography and work with Mandy Moore and Scott in that sense as well.

Randy and Julie fall in love over the course of the movie, despite the odds stacked against them. Josh opened up about what he loves about the relationship, which is loosely inspired by Romeo & Juliet. “I love the fact that it’s two people from two very different sides of society, and their love unfolds for one another,” Josh admitted. “I think it’s something that a lot of people can always relate to. It happens all the time in life that people seem to think that boundaries are all that’s important and that you can’t be with somebody from the other side of the tracks. I think it’s an important message that you can explore that. I just think it’s really nice that they fall in love, that you’re going to get to see two people from two different sides really caring about making that work, whether their friends are against them or not. And also seeing the struggle on both sides of each character dealing with their friends and families and things.”

Valley Girl
Jessica Rothe and Josh Whitehouse play Julie and Randy. (Orion Pictures)
Valley Girl
Josh Whitehouse and Mae Whitman star in ‘Valley Girl.’ (Orion Pictures)

Randy and Julie don’t end up together, but as the older Julie tells her daughter at the end of the film: “First loves are everything.” We don’t get to see Randy in the present day, so Josh weighed in on where he thinks Randy would be today. “I guess Randy went on to be a rock star or a punk star. [He] carried on playing his music and followed his dream, which was something that they both came to terms with being the best thing to do,” Josh said. Valley Girl is available in select drive-ins and on Digital starting May 8.

Click to Subscribe to Our HollywoodLife Daily Newsletter to get more celeb news.
  • Share This Article
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Email
  • Print
  • Talk

More Movie News:

  • 'Twilight' Stars Then & Now: See Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, & The Cast's Transformations
  • Julie Andrews Thinks She’s ‘Too Old & Crotchety’ To Be In 'Princess Diaries 3,' But Would Do It For Anne Hathaway
  • Val Kilmer, 60, Admits Reuniting With Tom Cruise, 57, For ‘Top Gun’ Sequel Was ‘Very Moving’

Most Read

Teen Mom 2’s Leah Messer Stuns In Mini Skirt During Girls’ Night Out With Country Star Gabrielle Mooney

Leah Messer

Gigi Hadid Finally Confirms Baby Girl’s Name 4 Months After Giving Birth

gigi

Melania Trump Trolled For Storming Off When Donald Stops To Greet Supporters In Florida

Joe Biden’s Oval Office Makeover: See How He Erased Donald Trump from White House – Before & After Pics

Joe Biden Oval Office

Biden Removes Red Button Trump Had On Presidential Desk That Ordered Diet Coke & Twitter Reacts

Joe Biden and Donald Trump

Have news, pics or video on a breaking news story?

Send us your Tip

Have news, pics or video on a breaking news story?

Send us your Tip

More From Our Brands

  • The Biden Administration’s National COVID-19 Strategy Is A 180 From Trump’s
    SheKnows

    The Biden Administration’s National COVID-19 Strategy Is A 180 From Trump’s

  • I Asked 10 Guys What They ~Actually~ Want For Valentine’s Day From Their S.O.
    StyleCaster

    I Asked 10 Guys What They ~Actually~ Want For Valentine’s Day From Their S.O.

  • Legacies EP on What Rafael's Premiere Discovery Really Means: 'He's Always Wondered Where He Comes From'
    TVLine

    Legacies EP on What Rafael's Premiere Discovery Really Means: 'He's Always Wondered Where He Comes From'

  • ‘Framing Britney Spears’ Documentary About Conservatorship to Air
    Rolling Stone

    ‘Framing Britney Spears’ Documentary About Conservatorship to Air

  • Virgil Abloh — And Mos Def — Had a Lot to Say In Louis Vuitton Men’s Fall 2021 Show
    FootwearNews

    Virgil Abloh — And Mos Def — Had a Lot to Say In Louis Vuitton Men’s Fall 2021 Show

    HollywoodLife

    • About Us
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Advertise With Us
    • Careers
    • Scoops & Corrections
    • Contact Us

    Legal

    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Rights
    • AdChoices
    • EU Privacy Preferences
    • Terms of Use
    • Data Policy
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

    News

    • Celebrity News
    • World News
    • Exclusives
    • Celebrity Babies

    Connect

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
SheKnows Media - Entertainment
© Copyright 2021 HollywoodLife, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC.
Powered by WordPress.com VIP
ad