Is Pump Up The Volume Christian Slaters best movie?
Mark prefers flying under the radar.
Because in Harry, Mark has an outlet to say what heactuallythinks.
And say it he does.
His views arent, in the scheme of things, massively radical.
Theres nobody to look up to, nothing to do.
Oh, and he simulates masturbation.
Interestingly, the story does have its roots in a real life situation.
Kids start ringing each other up, to help pass the broadcast on.
Tapes do the rounds.
More people start to notice.
In this case, its all a little too late.
One on-air conversation with Harry later, said caller commits suicide, and the system has its scapegoat.
Theres also a foil of sorts to Mark/Harry, and thats with Samantha Mathis Nora.
In her case, its her letters to his show, signed from the Eat Me Beat Me lady.
Its worth acknowledging too, that some points jar just a little.
Some of the reaction moments to people listening to Harrys broadcasts feel a little out of place.
Why do they come up with daft schemes such as BIONIC (Believe It Or Not I Care)?
Why do Marks parents not see beyond the tick box obvious?
But Moyle is, understandably, a little harder on their side of the story.
I should focus on Christian Slater in particular, though.
Id suggest he very much does.
Moyles writing, too, is at times exquisite.
Its the kind of stuff that romcoms stumble over all the time.
Heres a teen movie that handles it with class.
And it still is.
And if it isnt?
Well, to take the works of Harry himself, so be it…
