A Dirty Shame

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A Dirty Shame

NC-17,

2004,

1h 29m,

Comedy/

LGBTQ+

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Watchlist

55%

110 Reviews

Tomatometer

47%

Popcornmeter

55%

Tomatometer

110 Reviews

47%

Popcornmeter

Sylvia Stickles (Tracey Ullman) runs a convenience store with her husband (Chris Isaak) and mother-in-law (Suzanne Shepherd). One day, Sylvia is hit on the head and transforms from an uptight prude to a sex-crazed lunatic. As she goes on a rampage through town, Sylvia attracts the attention of Ray Ray (Johnny Knoxville), a sexual healer and tow truck driver in search of the world's greatest orgasm. Their sexual revolution, however, causes a class war in their tiny Baltimore community.

Critics Consensus

John Waters casts his provocative eye toward libido in a sex satire that won't leave audiences feeling too Dirty, but this sophomoric farce doesn't strike a nerve like his best work -- a real Shame.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Mar 13, 2018

This exercise in bad taste is the Dawn of the Dead of nymphomania. Never mean-spirited, A Dirty Shame has some big laughs, but it's a one-joke movie that shows its strain well before the finish line.

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Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

Oct 19, 2004

3.5/5

A genuine cri de couer in the director's long-running battle against the forces of censorship and a banal societal (and cinematic) status quo.

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Glenn Kenny

Premiere Magazine

Oct 6, 2004

3/4

A welcome reminder that sex is sometimes too ridiculous to take so seriously.

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Jim Lane

Sacramento News & Review

Aug 7, 2008

1/5

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Jul 30, 2007

B+

Waters has made a resolutely unsexy sex comedy, but he hasn't left out the comedy.

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Christopher Smith

Bangor Daily News (Maine)

Nov 18, 2005

B

No shame here.

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John Waters

Director

Tracey Ullman

Sylvia Stickles

Johnny Knoxville

Ray-Ray

Selma Blair

Caprice Stickles

Chris Isaak

Vaughn Stickles

Suzanne Shepherd

Big Ethel

Whipped

11%

32%

Whipped

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Synopsis

Sylvia Stickles (Tracey Ullman) runs a convenience store with her husband (Chris Isaak) and mother-in-law (Suzanne Shepherd). One day, Sylvia is hit on the head and transforms from an uptight prude to a sex-crazed lunatic. As she goes on a rampage through town, Sylvia attracts the attention of Ray Ray (Johnny Knoxville), a sexual healer and tow truck driver in search of the world's greatest orgasm. Their sexual revolution, however, causes a class war in their tiny Baltimore community.

Director: John Waters
Producer: Ted Hope
Screenwriter: John Waters
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: Killer Films, This Is That Productions, City Lights Pictures
Rating: NC-17 (Perverse Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 12, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.3M
Runtime: 1h 29m
Sound Mix: Surround, DTS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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