He's been dubbed the Pope of Trash, but writer/director John Waters makes a virtue of bad taste in sassy comedy A Dirty Shame. It's like a madcap B-movie that swaps man-munching zombies for flesh hungry sex addicts and stars Tracey Ullman as a repressed housewife transformed into a randy refugee from a Carry On film. Unless licking dirt turns you on, this won't change your life, but it's good throwaway fun untainted by even a hint of political correctness.
Leading the charge in this scourge of sexiness is 'Jackass' Johnny Knoxville as Ray-Ray Perkins, a Messiah-like figure who recruits disciples through "carnal concussion". A bump on the head is all it takes for Sylvia (Tracey Ullman) to confess "My name is Sylvia Stickles and my clitoris is in crisis!" As her put-upon spouse, sometime musician Chris Isaack stumbles about in hilariously blank-faced bewilderment, while screen daughter Selma Blair tries desperately not to tip over with a boob job that'd make Dolly Parton wince.
"THE PERFORMANCES ARE AMPED UP TO CARTOONISH LEVELS"
With its Christian symbolism and suburban setting, Waters seems bent on getting knickers in a twist, but the story is too slight to be offensive. Instead what comes across is an infectious sense of fun that perfectly exemplifies his ability to be subversive without resorting to graphic imagery or mean-spirited digs. However, in keeping with this tone, the performances are amped up to cartoonish levels, which can be wearisome. The finale likewise arrives in a sudden spurt of uncontrolled mayhem. Still, even with its shortcomings, this is a fun ride.
A Dirty Shame is released in West End cinemas on Friday 29th April and Nationwide on Friday 6th May 2005.
A Dirty Shame (2005)
