Technical assessment: 3
Moral assessment: 2.5
CINEMA rating: V14
MTRCB rating: R 13
The success of Twilight and other vampire films reveals our fascination with the undead and there is no sign of it
stopping. The latest is simply called Vamps starring Alicia Silverstone (Goody) and
Krysten Ritter (Stacy) as modern-day vampires in New York City. Goody and Stacy prefer to
call themselves ELFs (Eternal Life Form) instead of vampires and have sworn off
human blood with their ELF help group “Sanguines Anonymous” who survive on the
blood of animals, particularly rodents. The BFFs “are addicted to the night life, clubbing, and
always looking for the next thrill, all the while keeping their big secret. But
even with lifetimes of dating experience behind them, the duo realizes they
still have a lot to learn about love.” Stacy falls in love with Joey (Dan
Stevens), the son of a vampire hunter, Dr. Van Helsing (Wallace Shawn), and Goody runs
into the man of her dreams, Danny (Richard Lewis), from the 60s. “With their
destinies at stake, the girls are faced with a difficult
choice; give up their eternal youth for a chance at love, or continue to live
their uncomplicated fabulously single lives forever.”
Vamps
reunites Alicia Silverstone with director Amy Heckerling both of Clueless fame
and boasts of a finely assembled cast. You realize from the outset that this is
not your usual vampire story of horror and drama. Neither is it just a chick
flick or rom com movie. While most vampire movies main focus is on humans, Heckerling
succeeds in presenting vampires as creatures who have supernatural powers and
yet need to face the challenges of the 21st century. There are funny
and charming moments, and the film explores current issues like aging, keeping
up with the times and trends, loneliness and dependence on technology. Through
Goody, she chides us for using Facebook, Twitter, SMS and texting instead of
talking to each other, but says it in a tone that shows the film is out of
touch as the 19th century vampire.
Though vampires remain eternally
young, Vamps succumbs to the cult of
youth and beauty. Goody hides her real age to Stacy to keep their friendship,
and she also wants to appear young and attractive forever, revealing woman’s fear of old age. Heckerling tries to make it
Vamps in the City (cute and
charming) but doesn’t quite succeed, despite the lead actors and supporting
cast. It sometimes appears as a TV sitcom with cheap sets and uninspired lines.
In trying to appeal both to teenagers and Cher’s contemporaries in Clueless, Heckerling’s recent opus ends up an adequate but forgettable
movie.
The violence here is mostly
comical and there are some sexual references and strong language, plus some
intimate scenes. Hence CINEMA gives this movie an V14 rating.
