Katy Perry: Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)
Innocent high school fun turns into California Gurls Part Two, mixed with an episode of Sweet Valley High
Katy Perry loves to have fun. Her music seems to embody the life of the innocent party, even if an overconsumption of alcohol seems to be the very thing to blame when everything goes wrong. Perry exaggerates her definition of fun in her latest music video, an eight-minute mini-movie loaded with ‘Glee’ stars (Darren Criss, Kevin McHale), an endorsement plug from the popular rhythm game Just Dance 2!, and a load of Eighties celebs. The video feels like a retro throwback to the ’80’s and early-’90’s (totally rad!) and even puts Debbie Gibson, Hanson and Kenny G in the front seat. The storyline isn’t beef up with originality, but it does deliver in entertainment value. The storyline focuses on a nerdy geek Kathy Beth Terry (Katy Perry) waking up from a night that’s too fuzzy to remember. “Friday” star Rebecca Black, who plays herself, acts as Terry’s lifeline to joining the in-crowd. After a quick transformation from ugly ducking to sexy princess done halfways in the video, Terry becomes the life of the party. Perry’s comedic skills and her timing are extra positives for the video, making her a strong candidate for a cameo in the next ‘Scary Movie’. Only things seriously distracting in the video is how silly Kenny G looks while playing a solo written for Jr. Walker and how pale the song is compared to her previous singles released from her 2010 album Teenage Dream. It’s a cute song, but it’s no “California Gurls.”
J MATTHEW COBB
