It's instant fame and Josie and the Puddys are on the cover of "Rolling Stone" in a week's time. Wyatt, the U.S. Government and Mega-Records CEO Fiona (Parker Posey) have a secret agenda for the glam gals. Subliminal messages in their songs will mind-warp the youth of America into mega-buying fever and control every thought.

When the band begins to catch on to the scam, Fiona and crew try to break them up by brainwashing Josie into a super "diva" attitude that excludes her old buds. It almost works until she gets wise and confronts Fiona who threatens to kill Val and Melody if Josie doesn't play a concert alone. The girls make up, learn that Fiona and Wyatt are actually high school losers with major make-overs and proceed to play the concert and wow the crowd without any help from mind control devices. Oh, and Josie's crush finally admits he's hot for her.

"Josie" has its own blatant rather than subliminal message: Be who you are and think for yourself. Younger audiences will appreciate the message, the clothes, the winsome trio and the music and a brief "Charlie's Angels" take off. Anyone old enough to actually remember the t.v. series will have fun with the wicked send-ups of manufactured, N*Sync-style boy bands, over-the-top product placements in films, and the idea that the U.S. government has been controlling the pop market and conspicuous consumption all the way back to the days when Elvis first hip-bumped into our hearts!

The girls are fine in their roles, and Alan Cumming (of Cabaret fame) and queen of the indies Parker Posey are at their over-the-top bests. Gabriel Mann is the cute and sensitive guy all moms want their daughters to end up with and Missi Pyle and Paulo Costanzo are appropriately annoying as the brother-sis duo who constantly remind the girls of their small-town roots. Carson Daly is a hoot as he makes fun of himself and his MTV status.

The only "message" that doesn't sit well comes off as a put-down of African-American musicians. In a brief "documentary" an elderly black fellow claims he was once the third member of "The Captain and Tenille" before he was asked to leave. When describing black band member Val, Cumming's character calls her "very dark" and it's Val who is first pushed out of the band with the underlying message that her color made her the first choice to get the boot. It's also odd that Melody and Josie don't stand up for her when she's not invited to a party.

On the whole, however, "Josie" is a cute, melodic adventure that should appeal to any of us who ever wanted to be "On the cover of the Rolling Stone".

JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS NOW PLAYING This movie is rated "PG-13" Official Website