Movie-A-Day #97: Private Parts

[Evil Ash]

From RottenTomatoes.com:

Radio's larger-than-life bad boy, and self-proclaimed "King of All Media," Howard Stern exposes his "Private Parts" in this adaptation of his best-selling autobiography. Tracing his evolution from hopelessly geeky student to top-rated shock jock, the film not only chronicles his legendarily off-color on-air demeanor (Lesbian Dial-a-Date; frequent nude guests) and his continuous battles with management over content and co-hosts, but it also examines his unexpectedly touching and sincere relationship with his wife, Alison.

I have to admit like with O Brother, Where Art Thou? I was extremely leery of this movie. It wasn't just that it was about the shock jock Howard Stern (whom in truth I'm not that big of fan of ... his show is funny for short periods of time for me but thats about it) but it was also the fact that this was an autobiographical piece (which are extremely hit or miss as it comes to movies). Also the fact that Howard Stern, Robin Givens and the rest of the on-air crew of the show were going to play themselves in the movie ... I admit lead me to be a bit timid.

However, I have to admit that I was quite pleasantly suprised with the results. The acting was fairly well done, the comedy was outstanding (including his great feud with his boss at WNBC whom he nicknames "Pig Vomit"), and the presentation of his on and off air personalities was presented quite well. The evolution of his on-air personality from nerd to shock jock was almost unreal.

Its also kind of sad and ironic that at the end of the movie, he was talking about how happy he was with Allison and that his life couldn't be better. Evidentally she saw things quite differently ... as they were legally seperated a few years after this movie came out.

A solid, funny movie nonetheless and one I would recommend!

Favorite Part: The uncensored Match Game

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Up Next: True Lies

 

[mdamien13]

I could basically cut and paste your post to say my reservations about the movie and my pleasant surprise at how good it was. Just watched it again the other day, as a matter of fact. While I was impressed with his devotion to his wife, I also figured it was just a matter of time before she had enough with him.

For me this movie will always be remembered for one very important thing - the introduction of Paul Giamatti (sp) to audiences. He's become one of my favorite actors since I saw as Pigvomit.

 

[MadCardDisease]

"Pig Vomit" was the best.

I'm not a big Stern fan and I went into this movie thinking it would suck and was plesently surprised.

 

[Chaplin]

I also was surprised by the movie, but it certainly didn't change my opinion of Howard Stern.

 

[Mulli]

Watching this movie during the Laker/Spur last night (switching back and forth) was pretty cool.

 

[Ryanwb]

Watching this movie during the Laker/Spur last night (switching back and forth) was pretty cool.

Yeah, it was on Universal HD, I watched it too

 

[Mulli]

Yeah, it was on Universal HD, I watched it too

 

[Bada0Bing]

I watched this one in the theater. I don't find Stern very entertaining, but I enjoyed the movie.

 

[Mulli]

I watched this one in the theater. I don't find Stern very entertaining, but I enjoyed the movie.

I can see that, the supporting cast carries the movie.

 

[Ryanwb]

When I was a freshman in college I used to listen to the Howard Stern Show while I commuted. They gave daily updates about the progress of the filming, so this movie gives me a snapshot of my life during that time.

I guess that's why I like it.

 

[Linderbee]

I have seen this; don't remember a whole lot about it other than I thought it was pretty good.