Despite a fairly heavy layer of schmaltz, this is a fun, heartwarming film. More in the style of an eighties, John Hughes-style teen comedy than the more clever-clever nineties batch it came along with, this basically follows a gang of semi-stereotyped kids all working in a wacky record shop, dealing with their adolescent issues and trying to save their store; of course the answer to all their problems turns out to be a big party at the end. Most of the characters are pretty lovable, all interesting; the actors, particularly the less well-known ones, all perform brilliantly and seem to be having a great time doing it. Even the most hardened cynic will find it hard not to smile, particularly at the end.
Review of Empire Records
