Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Who's That Girl Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 30, 2024

Attempts are always made to turn music stars into movie stars. It’s a Hollywood tradition, finding producers luring singers to become actors, hoping their legions of fans will make the leap and create some box office magic, remaining loyal to their favorites. In 1987, Madonna was everything in popular culture, managing to top the charts, sell out concerts, and dominate media attention, with her every move captured and scrutinized. Madonna was big business. And yet, when it came to making pictures, the superstar couldn’t pay people to see her films. While her appearance in 1985’s “Desperately Seeking Susan” garnered some attention, Madonna’s foray into major roles crashed with 1986’s “Shanghai Surprise.” 1987’s “Who’s That Girl” also flopped, with the production aiming to bring out Madonna’s bubbly best with an homage to classic screwball comedies, allowing her to mix elements of Betty Boop and Judy Holliday in an endeavor that’s strictly out to please. The actual entertainment value of the effort isn’t quite as strong, but director James Foley (coming off “At Close Range”) always keeps “Who’s That Girl” on the move. It’s a wise choice to stick with speed, while Madonna remains charmingly excitable in the part, offering one of the better performances of her unsteady thespian career.

A tax attorney, life is perfectly planned out for Loudon (Griffin Dunne). He works for real estate magnate Simon (John McMartin) and he’s about to marry his boss’s daughter, Wendy (Haviland Morris), setting him up for a comfortable but constricted life. On the eve of his wedding, Simon tasks Loudon to deal with Nikki (Madonna). A restless spirit who’s just spent the last four years in prison, Nikki is in possession of a safety deposit box key she’s fiercely protective of, while Loudon is instructed to escort the young woman to a bus station and make sure she leaves New York City for good. Unfortunately for the straightlaced man, Nikki is a handful, with Loudon trying to keep up as she takes him on multiple stops, dealing with criminals, cops, and a cougar named Murray. Along the journey, Loudon and Nikki begin to understand each other, with the young woman’s crazy ways helping to loosen up the future groom, mixing everything up at a critical moment in his life.

“Who’s That Girl” offers some help with tonality during its animated main title sequence, which supplies an introduction to Nikki’s personality and her troubling situation. It’s a light way to get the movie on its feet, allowing Madonna to take over as the character, who’s emerging from a four- year-long prison stint, delighted to mess with the guards and reclaim access to a safety deposit box, with the key around her neck an important part of the plot. Screenwriters Ken Finkleman and Andrew Smith set up a game of opposites with the material, introducing Loudon and his uptight ways, locked into an upcoming marriage and life of privilege where he has little control. He's an errand boy, and one sent to collect Nikki by his concerned boss and future father-in-law, setting up a clash of personalities for the writing to explore.

“Who’s That Girl” gets a little mileage out of Loudon and Nikki’s initial time together, watching the parolee try to avoid the bus station by taking her driver to the mall, where she introduces her kleptomaniac ways. And there’s the whole cougar situation, with Loudon in charge of bringing the big cat back to a rich man, barely maintaining control of the animal, while Nikki loves Murray, who reappears throughout the movie. “Who’s That Girl” sets up obstacles for Loudon and Nikki to navigate, including reckless driving with the tax man’s Rolls Royce, a visit to Harlem for a gun purchase, and a confrontation with goons Benny (Dennis Burkley) and Raoul (Coati Mundi), with the latter taking the action to the top of a parking garage for more heightened conflict. On the case are Bellson (Robert Swan) and Doyle (Drew Pillsbury), two detectives trailing Loudon and Nikki, though these supporting characters never really factor into the story in a major way, remaining loosely defined witnesses to plenty of crimes.

Foley pushes the picture through tours and interactions, creating some rhythm to the endeavor that helps it dance across some fairly unfunny scenes. Scripted nonsense is somewhat flat, including the presence of Buck (James Dietz), a dimwit, well-built UPS-style driver who occasionally returns to the unfolding situation. And snobbery from Wendy and her father has its limits. Most of “Who’s That Girl” relies on the actors, and Dunne has certainly come to play, enjoying his part in the craziness as Loudon is gradually pounded into consciousness by his time with Nikki. Madonna also gets as far as she goes in the feature, doing the cannonball blonde routine with enthusiasm, working the snowballing aspects of the character. “Who’s That Girl” eventually tries to pair Loudon and Nikki for romantic purposes, which doesn’t work. Dunne and Madonna are much better with antagonistic situations than googly eyes.

Who's That Girl Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as a "New 2K scan of the 35mm interpositive." Considering "Who's That Girl" was last seen on DVD, the upgrade here is noticeable, securing a softer but decent sense of skin particulars and makeup application, which is particularly heavy on Madonna to sell the broadness of her character. Costuming is acceptably fibrous as fashion is tracked throughout the viewing experience. New York City locations are also compellingly dimensional, providing a sense of urban depth. Interiors do well with decorative addition and luxury expanse. Color is alert, working especially well with Nikki's platinum blonde hair and bold red lipstick. NYC signage also delivers defined primaries, along with a cooler concrete look for some of the stops. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Compression holds together. Source is in good condition.

Who's That Girl Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix remains mostly a frontal listening event, with a wider sense of engagement and some panning effects. Dialogue exchanges are defined, securing distinct performance choices, especially chirpy lines from Madonna. Scoring cues retain clear instrumentation and comedic support. Soundtrack cuts are equally sharp, with fresh vocals and snappier beats. Surrounds are periodically engaged with atmospherics and musical moods. Sound effects are appreciable.

Who's That Girl Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary feature film historian Russell Dyball.

• Image Gallery (7:54) collects poster art, film stills, and publicity shots.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:08, SD) is included.

Who's That Girl Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Who's That Girl" winds itself into a frenzy in the final act, offering bound bridesmaids, Murray in heat, and some bus and motorcycle stunt work. The picture takes a few breathers to pair Loudon and Nikki, but Foley does a commendable job keeping the feature going, trying to bring old Hollywood energy to the 1980s. He's not entirely successful, but the helmer manages to extract something from Madonna few could, and he preserves the lightness of the endeavor, making for an easy sit. It's not the riot it wants to be, but "Who's That Girl" has its highlights and fun factor, and it's never boring, which is no small achievement.