The film is about Joanne Jet and Cherie Curie, friends who move from rebellious teenagers from Southern California to rock stars in the legendary group. Over time, both friends face a different path of their lives because it is the group that paved the way for future generations of all girls. That group seems to be fully influenced by Svengali-like of the rock impresario Kim Fowley, who turns the group into real success.
In age-appropriate casting, Fanning doesn't put a platform boot wrong in her portrayal of a valley girl rock chick (circa. 1975) growing up way too fast, with neither the inclination nor the wherewithal to slow down.
[It chooses] to merely nod at the more complicated, strange and exciting aspects of the band's story and spend most of its time touching on the usual stuff
While Jett and Currie emerge as blurry, half-formed characters, Shannon's Fowley brings the contradictions the Runaways embodied into sharp, biting focus.
