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Title: The Last Showgirl
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Gia Coppola
Starring: Pamela Anderson, Kiernan Shipka, Brenda Song
Runtime: 1 hr 29 mins

What It Is: An aging showgirl (Pamela Anderson) is forced to confront her life choices and the uncertain next chapter of her journey when her show closes after an impressive 30-year run. This uniquely Vegas tale weaves a story about an entire ensemble of middle-class performers whose lives have been deeply impacted by the changing times.

What We Think: I’ll preface this review by saying I have personal ties to the subject matter. My parents were Vegas dancers during the era the older characters in the film are supposed to have danced in. Watching this movie was a meta experience for me—these characters were, in many ways, my family and family friends. It was surreal because, for years, I felt like this world I knew so intimately was never addressed in the movies I watched.

There’s a scene where Dave Bautista’s character talks about being trapped with one of the tigers at a Siegfried and Roy show. Ironically, a similar incident happened to a relative of mine. That story is introduced right at the beginning of the film, making the whole thing a weirdly personal experience for me.

Needless to say, this movie hit close to home on several levels. Its portrayal of Vegas feels authentically “Vegas” in a way that’s rarely depicted on screen. The film is a love letter to my bizarre hometown, populated by characters who felt like people I knew personally. It was a beautiful experience in that regard. I even have an uncle who had hair like Bautista’s character in the film (and yes, he was a showboy). Jamie Lee Curtis’s cocktail waitress felt like a familiar face you’d see in every casino on the Strip. And sadly, I’ve also known people like Pamela Anderson’s character—those still chasing the spotlight long after it’s faded.

Where this film truly wins me over is in the loving authenticity it brings to Vegas, capturing both its charm and its darker undercurrents.

Every actor nailed their part. I was unfamiliar with Pamela Anderson’s recent work, but I was deeply impressed by her range. She portrays Shelly—a once-stunning star now faded—with a sweet, natural bubbliness, while also delivering a broad spectrum of emotions. Quite frankly, she blew me away. Bautista delivers a lovely, understated performance—I really liked him in this role. Kiernan Shipka thoroughly impressed me with her dance moves and natural charisma, and Brenda Song played off her wonderfully. Jamie Lee Curtis? She’s easily the highlight of the film. Her cocktail waitress character was hilarious and felt the most authentic.

If I have any nitpicks, they lie in how the film was shot. I understand the budget was likely limited, but at times, the background was overly blurry, to the point of being distracting. The transitions between scenes often showcased parts of the city, which I appreciated to a degree, but it felt like there was an overreliance on these shots. They frequently featured the same locations, and I would’ve loved to see more variety in the cityscape.

The film also drags at times and lacks a clear resolution, which got on my nerves a little. While I appreciated the slice-of-life approach, it left the ending feeling somewhat unfulfilling.

Our Grade: A, Honestly, I liked this movie a lot more than I expected. It even made me go back and revisit some old family photos, reflecting on my own family and the memories we’ve shared.

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