In post-apocalyptic 2033, after an ecological disaster caused by a near-miss with a comet, Earth is a virtually waterless wasteland. "Tank Girl" Rebecca Buck (Lori Pety) is a water poacher who gives water to others that she steals from the Department of Water and Power, run by evil Dr. Kesslee (Malcolm McDowell). Tank Girl explains: "This comet came crashing into the earth. BAM! Total devastation. No celebrities, no cable TV, no water! It hasn't rained in 11 years. Now, 20 people gotta squeeze into the same bathtub. So it ain't all bad."
Captured by Water and Power, Tank Girl is forced to work in the mines. She becomes friends with Jet Girl (Naomi Watts) and they break out and steal a tank and a jet. They join forces with the Rippers, mutant kangaroo/humans. Rock stars Iggy Pop and Ice-T play Rippers. Tank Girl rescues her little girl and the group attacks the Department of Water and Power.
(the Rippers are deciding what to do with Tank Girl and Jet Girl)
T-Saint: "I say we kill 'em."
Donner: "I say we hump 'em. Wanna dance?"
Jet Girl: "I don't know how.
Donner: "It's okay, I brought the condoms."
Deetee: "Okay, we're gonna give you babes a chance to prove yourselves. Call it an initiation."
T-Saint: "You fail, you die!"
Donner: "Yeah, but first, you gotta strip."
Booga: "That's not in the plan."
T-Saint: "How much did they pay you to spy on us?
Tank Girl: "Two dollars and fifteen cents."
Adapted from the English underground comic book by Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett, this big budget sci-fi comedy is a lot of fun. The comic book is non-linear, but the film has a coherent action movie structure, profanity and violence, trendy pop culture references, and animated sequences. Tank Girl tells Dr. Kesslee, "Look, if you want to torture me, spank me, lick me, do it. But if this poetry s**t continues, shoot me now, please."
Tank Girl is a feminist superhero punk who is tough, brash, sarcastic, mouthy, and has an irreverent sense of humour that makes her charming. She has too much attitude, doesn't care what others think about her, and cannot be intimidated. Throughout the film she wears 18 different costumes and hairstyles.
This wonderful adaptation is well produced and directed. It's quite crazy, with a good cast who give great acting performances. Male characters are villains or somehow defective. The costumes and sets are likewise very good, although the plot could be better. There are plenty of amusing one-liners and wise-cracks.
Also in the cast are: Ice-T (T-Saint), Don Harvery (Sergeant Small), Jeff Kober (Booga), Reg E. Cathey (Deetee), Scott Coffey (Donner), Stacy Lynn Ramsower (Sam), Ann Cusack (Sub Girl), Brian Wimmer (Richard), Dawn Robinson (model), Bill L. Sullivan (Max), James Hong (Che'tsai), Charles Jones (Ripper), Charles Lucia (Capt. Derouche), Harlan Clark (Ripper), Doug Jones (Ripper), Roz Witt (Dr. Nikita), Brixton Karnes (Pilot), Will Strickland (Zack), John David Bland (Trooper Wayne), and many others. Writing credits are Alan Martin, Jamie Hewlett, and Tedi Sarafian. Original music is by Graeme Revell. Rachel Talalay directed.
Courtney Love executive produced and coordinated the alternative music soundtrack. The artists are: Stomp, Rachel Sweet, Bjork, Devo, Magnificent Bastards, Richard Hell, L7, Isaac Hayes, face to face, Sky Cries Mary, Hole, Bush, Portishead, Joan Jett, Belly, Veruca Salt, Iggy Pop, and Ice-T.
