It can be hard to adapt to a changing world that’s left you behind. As we grow older, we sometimes find that we’ve been passed by. How do you react to those shifting sands of time and progress?

The Last Showgirl is about such a story. The focus is on Shelly (Pamela Anderson), a showgirl at the last of the old Las Vegas shows. She’s been a star on that stage, in that production for decades. But the show is closing, leaving Shelly wondering what comes next.

She’s surrounded by younger dancers (Kiernan Shipka and Brenda Song), who are scrambling to find their own next thing, finding the landscape for dancers and needed skills have changed. At her age and without more formal training, Shelly struggles to compete. Her best friend, Annette (Jamie-Lee Curtis), is a former dancer who now struggles as a casino cocktail waitress. Shelly begins to worry that’s the fate that awaits her, as well.

She also begins to take stock of her life as she prepares for this epic change. She re-kindles an old romance with Eddie (Dave Bautista), who works on her show and has for nearly as long as Shelly. She also tries to re-connect with her daughter, Hannah (Billie Lourd), who struggles to understand why she always seemed to come in second place to her mother’s career.

This film comes from Gia Coppola, part of a long line of filmmakers that includes her grandfather Francis Ford Coppola. This film shows a deft visual touch. The way it showcases the stage show and the performers, while framing a different, older side of Las Vegas against the modern backdrop of a changing strip is fascinating. There are many sequences and shots that captivate the eye and bring the story to life.

It’s a simple story, but the script from Kate Gersten pours into Shelly and her journey. It’s a strong cast that give some good performances. The supporting cast does a nice job of helping to build out the world and the changing times in the industry and the city.

But this really works thanks to Anderson. It’s been some time seen we’ve seen her carry a film, and never one with this kind of depth of emotion. She lays herself bare, pouring her heart into Shelly and this journey of a fading star coming to the end with nowhere to land. It’s heart-breaking and beautiful at times.

The Last Showgirl is a simple story that’s well crafted. I would have liked to see a bit more depth to the story, but it remains an interesting watch thanks to Anderson’s star performance.

The Last Showgirl expands nationwide on Friday, January 10.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.