Empire Records has ruined all of my summer part-time job experiences. You think I’m kidding? Imagine my horror, when I showed up for my first day of work at Don Pedro’s Family Mexican Restaurant, to find that my boss was NOT a curmudgeonly but lovable ex-drummer, no one had ever shaved their head in the bathroom sink, and I had no veto rights in regards to music choices. My co-workers actually did turn out to be a rag-tag group of misfits, but not in a cool way. It’s ok, though. The fact that my summer joe-jobs never play out like a cult comedy only furthers my appreciation for this awesome, awesome movie.

It’s hard to pin down what exactly makes this film so friggin’ spectacular. It might be snappy dialogue, the awesome cast, or maybe the killer soundtrack, packed with all the 90’s alt-rock a lady could wish for. Or, more likely, it’s because this movie is so weirdly polarizing; either you love it or you hate it, and simply by loving it I get to be part of an exclusive club. (If that sounds snobbish, remember that this is a club that worships a movie about a bunch of losers working in a record store). And someday, I may have to move past this juvenile obsession I have with Empire Records. I may have to learn to appreciate Wes Anderson movies and try really hard to get into The Killing. But for now, I’m gonna stick with what I know.
Damn the man, save the Empire!

-Whitney