The Last Showgirl

After performing for over thirty years in a Las Vegas dance revue called the Razzle Dazzle, showgirl Shelly (Pamela Anderson) finds out that the production is closing for good in two weeks. With the incoming end of her life's work and passion, Shelly must reckon with her place in the world without the show — including navigating her relationships with her daughter (Billie Lourd), her best friend (Jamie Lee Curtis), her fellow showgirls (Brenda Song, Kiernan Shipka), and her longtime co-worker and friend Eddie (Dave Bautista).

End of an Era. The Last Showgirl finds most of the heft of its story and conflict in the interactions across its wide cast of characters. This is mostly a dialogue-heavy film which tackles a chapter closing for a woman in what is ostensibly a show that is fantasy and fluff over substance, even down to its title. The film has very interesting points; it brings up devotion to a craft that may or may not even matter in the long run — a devotion made meaningful anyway through simply loving the craft no matter what other people feel about it. On top of that, in this film about endings and time fading what was once iridescent, there are also very interesting discussions here on lost opportunities as one grows older; the trials women, in particular, have to face when their age no longer allows the beauty and glamor that comes with youth, and how cruel society can be towards these unreasonable beauty standards. There are some very melancholic yet moving moments when the film spends time thinking about these themes.

Taking the time. Though these themes are certainly worthy of rumination, the film feels like it actually lacks enough time to really dissect these ideas. There are several conflicts going on in this film, and the film is most interesting when it discusses these conflicts through its characters. The film could have actually spent more runtime on these discussions, especially considering that the film runs just shy of 90 minutes long. As it stands, there's a lot of drama in the film that feels underbaked, really needing more time to breathe. There are some subplots brought up with supporting characters that could make for some interesting drama but are never really given much further thought or a satisfying resolution. Worse still, chunks of the film often have characters gazing longingly or moving and dancing gracefully at Vegas tourist sights and flashing lights. Though these scenes are beautifully shot, they read as more pretentious than contemplative, especially given the rest of the film's focus on dialogue rather than brooding pace. Again, these moments of contemplative pause may have actually worked far better had the film taken its time. There is nothing wrong with a film having a slower pace and truly taking time to tell its story or even setting a slower style that allows for meditation, especially when the film decides to spend time on visuals that serve only that meditative purpose. This film really needed more time to let its story settle.

Sticking the Landing. Though there is a lot to be desired from the storytelling, the film does have another major strength going for it: the performances. The entire cast puts in splendid work here, making the colorful cast of characters truly come to life. Dave Bautista imbues his role with gentle yet remarkable emotion, embodying the age yet also the quiet resilience of his character through the gruffness of his voice or a soft look alone. Jamie Lee Curtis manages to steal the show during the short amount of runtime she has, really cementing a memorable and enjoyable larger-than-life personality and making it glow. But of course, the real highlight is Pamela Anderson, who believes in the role and generously gives her all in portraying it. Though at times it may be a bit difficult to believe in Shelly's clearly misguided love for the show, Pamela makes one not only believe in it but sympathize with just how much a show so clearly crafted to be superfluous and skin-deep can mean the world anyway. Even though the film may have needed more space to truly make its drama develop to truly emotional heights, Pamela's performance still makes the film stick to its intended bitter-sweet landing anyway.