From The Hollywood Reporter · David Rooney · · 1m
Rebel Wilson's 'Girl Group' is derivative pop nonsense
Wilson's directorial follow-up lacks originality, humor, and narrative drive.
In brief
Wilson's directorial follow-up lacks originality, humor, and narrative drive. Wilson's second directorial effort, written entirely by her, fails to generate laughs or compelling storytelling despite relying on pop nostalgia. Originally reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Wilson's first film got a pass
Her 2024 directorial debut 'The Deb' was well-received, adapted from an Australian stage musical by one of its original authors.
This time, Wilson goes solo
For 'Girl Group,' Wilson writes, directs, and stars without adapting pre-existing material, creating original content from scratch.
The result is derivative and unfunny
The film is another 'Pitch Perfect' knockoff, a thrown-together collection of familiar ideas that are painfully unfunny and narratively weak.
“another ersatz Pitch Perfect, a thrown-together grab bag of familiar ideas both painfully unfunny and narratively anemic”
Pop nostalgia can't save it
The film relies primarily on charm-deficient pop nostalgia for whatever appeal it might have, which isn't much.
It makes you reconsider 'Spice World'
The film is so uninspired that viewers find themselves wondering if the 1997 Spice Girls movie was actually better.
“Was Spice World really that bad?”
The headline
Wilson's second directorial effort, written entirely by her, fails to generate laughs or compelling storytelling despite relying on pop nostalgia.
