First off, not only is a relationship between a 15-year-old boy and a 25-year-old woman unusual, it’s also illegal. Perhaps because it takes place in 1973, we’re not supposed to care. Anyway, he (Cooper Hoffman, son of Philip Seymour) and she (Alana Haim of the band Haim with her sisters and parents playing themselves) amble around LA while the story rambles. They flirt, start a business and meet unusual people (segments starring Bradley Cooper and Sean Penn are interesting, but add nothing to the story). Hoffman has a sweet young charm, while Haim comes off mostly flat. Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson has indulged himself with random encounters that give him a chance to flex his skills without creating much of a gratifying narrative. Even though it’s never explained, the title refers to a former chain of record stores. NOTE: There are a number of stars in cameos, but listen for Anderson regular John C. Reilly’s distinctive voice at the entrance of the Teen Fair. 
(3.5 / 5)
