Pecker - John Waters Lite? (Pecker (DVD))

Member Name: jamworld

Product:	Pecker (DVD)
Date:	07/07/00 (45 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Bright and breezy but not shallow

Disadvantages: Could have been more big laughs

John Waters rarely disappoints, though some of his fans might just find Pecker a little bit squeaky clean (despite it's suggestive title) compared to the outrageousness of some of his earlier films.

The gist of the story is the rise to prominence of a young photographer in Baltimore and the unwelcome intrusions that the subsequent attention brings. Now I have a special talent for making good things sound really boring, as I just did then, because Pecker is much better than that sounds.

The genius of John Waters is to take a potentially dull subject - boy has talent/boy finds fame/doesn't like fame - and filling it with rich and strange characters and settings.

Pecker takes photos of everything and everyone he sees in his local area. The trendy New York arty types see the simple photos as hard hitting and controversial portaits of life, and suddenly the sweet and innocent Baltimore boy is a star. However when his stardom starts to tear him away from his roots, he refuses to be dragged along and challenges the routine paths of the worlds of art and celebrity. In a humerous and sometime prepostorous way of course,as is Waters whim.

The film plays out quite comically and there are a few belly laughs but mostly it is just amusing. It is hard not to get to like the main characters Pecker played by Edward Furlong, and his workaholic girlfriend (she works as a laundrette attendant!) played by Christina Ricci. Pecker's mother, grandmother and sugar addict little sister add even more human empathy to the story despite their touchingly off the wall personas.

Has John Waters lost his edge? Nah, this is not shocking (although keep your eye on the rats in the opening credits) but it is a very good, original film anyway. Great easy watching that will leave you with a knowing grin and a warm feeling all over.

Oh and the name? Apparently he used to 'peck' at his food as a kid. Hmmmmn...

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