A Dirty Shame
Seen it?2004 | 89 min | Comedy, Fantasy
Weeknight WatchWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With a lukewarm 5.4 out of 10 from audiences and a box office loss, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh and fantasy fans. If you loved Female Trouble or Life of Brian, start here.
- The mood
- Provocative satire that goes after everyone.
- The pace
- Breezy, at 1 hr 29 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated NC-17: expect drug use and sex.
Sylvia Stickles runs a convenience store with her husband and mother-in-law. 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, 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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsSolid
53% on Rotten Tomatoes, 56 on Metacritic
- AudiencesBelow par
5.4 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$2 million worldwide on a $15 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 82K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Female Trouble
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Life of Brian
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Cast & crew
Directed by John Waters
- Tracey UllmanSylvia Stickles
- Johnny KnoxvilleRay Ray Perkins
- Selma BlairCaprice Stickles
- Chris IsaakVaughn Stickles
- Suzanne ShepherdBig Ethel
- Mink StoleMarge the Neuter
- Patricia HearstPaige
- Jackie HoffmanDora
- Nicholas E.I. NobleWeird Paperboy
- Lucy Newman-WilliamsNeuter Yuppie Woman