COYOTE UGLY

US, 2000, 100 minutes, Colour.
Piper Perabo, Adam Garcia, Maria Bello, Melanie Lynskey, John Goodman, Bridget Moynahan, Bud Court.
Directed by David Mc Nally.

The answer to the immediate question is that it is a raucous bar in New York City where crowds go to ogle the dancers and drink and shout the night away! Even if you would not go there yourself, still the film is more enjoyable than anticipated, the story of a would-be songwriter (Piper Perabo) who leaves home and Dad (John Goodman), gets ripped off in the city and finds herself succeeding as a Coyote. She meets a pleasant Australian (Adam Garcia), asserts herself and, of course... It may remind movie buffs of Flashdance - though definitely more raucous. It is from the same producer.

1.The popularity of this film? For men? For women?

2.The New Jersey settings? Homes, clubs? The bridges and the tolls? The New York settings, the apartments, restaurants, the streets, the nightclub?

3.The music, the songs? Popular, mimed, performed in Coyote Ugly? Violet’s original songs and their performance?

4.The popular story of the would-be composer? Her home life, from New Jersey, going to New York, naivety, hoping to get a big break? Being taken in? Having to get a rough job? Threats? The exposure to her father? The break? Personal shyness, falling in love, support? Achievement? A popular urban fairy tale?

5.Violet, her relationship with her father, looking after him? Her dead mother and the happy memories of her singing? Her friendship with her school friends, especially with Gloria? The decision to go to New York, her father not wanting her to go, his wry comments? Gloria and the night with the girls, the song, ‘I Will Survive’? Her going, talking with her father, her father relenting? In New York, the apartment, Gloria giving her the money, Gloria’s pride in her achievement in actually moving away from home?

6.Violet, in herself, shy? Her trying to get the attention of the music industry? The various visits, the offhand secretaries? In the bar, the joke about Kevin O’Donnell? Meeting Kevin, his playing the game, being exposed, her being upset with him? His following her, her going around in circles? Her going to see him to get the tape back? His listening to her songs? Her desperation, having the cup of coffee, hearing Cammie and the other girls from Coyote Ugly, their song? Finding out about the place? Her going, wanting a job? The meeting with Lil, Lil and her tough attitudes? Allowing Violet to have an audition?

7.Violet at Coyote Ugly, her awkwardness, her tryout, Lil tearing her t-shirt, giving her the name Jersey? The patrons, not serving water, hosing the patrons down? Her mistake with the fire superintendent? Her owing Lil two hundred and fifty dollars? Kevin’s arrival, her persuading him to be auctioned? Lil getting her the job? Her handling of difficult situations, especially the fights, her experience in New Jersey?

8.The meetings with Kevin, going to the fish market and working with him, falling in love? The sexual relationship? His wanting to help her with her self-confidence and the singing? His buying the comic? His selling his comic in order to get her an audition? Lil refusing to let her go? His being upset, the challenge, their falling out?

9.Lil, strong personality, from the Midwest, running of Coyote Ugly, her rules? The girls looking available but not available? Her relationship with her customers, the fire department, the police? The customers, buying the girls drinks, fights and pacification? Her dealings with Violet, supporting her, not letting her go to the audition? Violet’s leaving, the more polite job? Lil coming to see her, supporting her, getting everybody to go to her performance? Everybody at the end at Coyote Ugly – with Violet’s father there?

10.The girls, their dancing, getting money for their studies? Relating with the men? Going to the shops, buying fashions, the friendship of the girls with Violet? Rachel and her stand-offishness? Their relenting, coming to her performance? The new girl and Rachel’s same behaviour?

11.Kevin, genial, from Australia, reserved in his story? Working, pretending to be an entrepreneur? The relationship with Violet, falling in love, taking her out, the meals, going to work in the fish market? The relationship? Helping her with her nervousness? Getting her the audition, selling his comic book? His truth and harsh challenge to her? His coming to the performance, turning out the lights, her success, the happy ending?

12.Bill Sandford, widower, working on the tolls on the bridge? Not wanting his daughter to go? At the wedding, his liking for Gloria? Seeing the picture of Violet in the paper, his upset, disowning her? His gradually coming round? At the performance, getting the camera? His being auctioned at Coyote Ugly?

13.The background of the music industry and its harshness? The cafes and bars and the bartenders and their advice? The Coyote Ugly staff? The customers and their raucousness?

14.Violet coming out of herself, her song, success? An urban fairy tale?