Paul Verhoeven is officially a Born to Watch legend, but this week the boys go deep into his most infamous film to find out if Showgirls (1995) deserves a spot at the top of the Rank Bank or belongs buried under a mountain of glitter and regret. The Showgirls (1995) Review will be a lot of fun.
From the moment Nomi Malone hitchhikes into Las Vegas with dreams of stardom and a suitcase full of questionable choices, Verhoeven's neon-soaked disaster invites every kind of reaction. Whitey, G-Man and Damo rip through the plot with their trademark mix of outrage and disbelief, tackling everything from Elizabeth Berkeley's career-ending performance to Kyle MacLachlan's slippery pool scene that's become cinematic legend for all the wrong reasons.
Was Showgirls ever meant to be serious? Could it have worked as a satire? The crew debates whether Verhoeven's direction and Joe Eszterhas's ludicrous script are misunderstood genius or just cinematic malpractice. Damo argues that it's a "full mind-body spiritual experience," while Whitey insists it's “a masterpiece of shit." G-Man tries to stay objective, but even he can't defend dialogue this wooden or acting this drenched in baby oil.
The team delves into the film's troubled production history, including Berkeley's disastrous fallout from Saved by the Bell, Verhoeven's later confession that he pushed her into cartoonish exaggeration, and Kyle MacLachlan's stunned reaction at the premiere: "I was absolutely gobsmacked." They explore how Showgirls was panned on release, only to rise again as a cult classic, the sort of “so-bad-it's-good” masterpiece that packs midnight screenings and inspires drag-queen tributes around the world.
No Born to Watch review would be complete without the Snorbs Report, and this week it's a full-length epic. From the film's Razzie nominations to its $100 million home-video redemption, the boys chronicle how Showgirls became both an artistic failure and a commercial success. There's trivia about its banned trailer, its notorious NC-17 rating, and Verhoeven's history of pushing boundaries, from Basic Instinct to Starship Troopers.
In true Born to Watch fashion, the lads discover a few accidental highlights: Gina Gershon's camp brilliance, the hilariously terrible fight choreography, and Robert Davi's unforgettable line delivery that cements his place in movie-villain history. They even crown Showgirls the global champion of "wank-per-capita cinema", a category no one asked for but everyone understands.
By the end, they decide Showgirls is a film that must be seen to be believed. It's equal parts erotic thriller, unintentional comedy, and cautionary tale about a tragic career. Whether you love it, hate it, or just can't look away, Showgirls remains a cinematic experience unlike anything else.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Was Showgirls a misunderstood genius or glorious trash?
Is Nomi Malone the most unlikeable lead in movie history?
Did Verhoeven create art, or just soft-core chaos in heels?
Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods.
Drop us a voicemail at BornToWatch.com.au and tell us where this one ranks in your guilty pleasures.
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