A Dirty Shame

I don't know how exactly this John Waters film worked, I'm not sure how a collection of actors including Tracy Ullman, Chris Issak, Selma Blair and an astoundingly good Johnny Knoxville, managed to make this film work so well.

Centered around suffering housewife Sylvia Stickles, played by Ullman, the story tells of a community under siege by the sexually aware, forcing themselves upon the innocent. With well placed nods to the anti communist films of America's 50s, the film pits the sexually aware 'sex addicts' led by Ullman's Stickles against the wowsering 'Neuters', led by Stickles mother, the angry Big Ethel.

The film pulls at the threads of religious revivalism, encouraging the viewer to giggle slyly at every innuendo and simulated sex act along the way.

The films roaring final act is preceded by the meeting of 'Sex Addicts Anonymous' in which Syvia's sponsor encourages her to:

"Make a list of everyone you have fucked... and apologise to their parents."

Featuring a pop culturally well placed cameo by David Hasselhoff, this initially slow film just rolls on and on, drawing the audience into it's saucy cinematic foreplay, whispering into it's ear that if it just relaxes, 'it'll enjoy it, I promise.'

4.5 banana flavoured lattes out of 5.