Empire Records takes place almost entirely within a record store and almost entirely in one day. And yet, enough happens to fill a year – well, at least a month. The point is, a lot happens, which is good, but it all happens fairly quickly or superficially, which isn’t so good.

It’s not just everyday stuff that happens either. It’s important stuff. It’s a big day at Empire Records because Rex Manning (Maxwell Caulfield), a pop star popular among women, is coming to sign records. Things have been complicated at the store, though, because Lucas (Rory Cochrane) closed the store the night before, and figuring out that the store was in financial trouble, gambled and lost the daily deposit. Now Joe (Anthony Lapaglia), the cool manager, has to try to find a way to get the money back. Meanwhile, another employee, A.J. (Johnny Whitworth) is trying to find a way to express his love for Corey (Liv Tyler), a genius speed addict who is trying to give her virginity away to Rex Manning. Other employees include the sex obsessed Gina (Renee Zellweger), the suicidal Debra (Robin Tunney), the guitar playing Berko (Coyote Shivers), the crazy, fun loving Mark (Ethan Embry), and even a shoplifter who calls himself Warren (Brendan Sexton), who really just wants to be a part of the gang.

We move quickly from conflict to conflict without much resolution, until almost everything is neatly resolved in the end. The bigger problem has to do with the ease with which the resolutions, or lack thereof, come in the midst of such major problems. Empire Records seems to offer easy solutions to heavy issues such as drug use, theft, promiscuous sex, suicide and depression. Not only are seemingly easy outs expressed, but the issues are dealt with fairly lightheartedly and none are depicted as seriously dangerous in the first place.

But these characters are fun. They are clearly having fun and we have fun watching them. Rock and Roll fills the air and the spirit of rock fills the people. I almost began to feel like Warren, wanting to just hang out with these guys. At least for a day.

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