Review of A Dirty Shame (2004) by Bob V — 29 Jan 2011

John Waters unleashed. This film takes us deep into bad taste, and managed for the first time in a while, to teach me some new things about sexual deviance. I love John Waters, I really do, but "Cecil B. Demented" for the very first time left me somewhat bored near the end (though he made amends by setting Melanie Griffith on fire, granted) and I have the same problem with "Dirty Shame". Not arguing aesthetics or class, the first 3 quarters of this film are fresh, funny, fast-paced and always on the right side of out-of-control. However, the last quarter plunges into desperate mess, and takes a lot of the fun out of the whole film for me, becoming repetitive and a bit dull even (oh, I shudder to say it about the great Waters, but I cannot tell a lie. Yes, I can, loads even, but that's neither here nor there). Worst of all: he doesn't set Johnny Knoxville on fire to make up for it.

I'd still recommend it though, to certain people because well, I like to mess with your heads, and to others because I know that just like me, they'll appreciate the largest part of this film for the uninhibited laugh-out-loud grossfest it is.