Straight Talk (1992)

When down-on-her-luck country girl Shirlee Kenyon (Dolly Parton, STEEL MAGNOLIAS) walks through the wrong door at the right time, she accidentally becomes Chicago's newest talk-radio celebrity and turns the Windy City's hottest radio station upside down! With her homespun wit and down-home advice, Shirlee immediately wins listeners' hearts -- but causes hilarious confusion for her ratings-conscious boss (Griffin Dunne -- MY GIRL) and comical havoc for the investigative reporter (James Woods -- 40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS) trying to uncover her mysterious past! If you're looking for no-nonsense advice on what hit movie offers you pure entertainment -- you'll love every comical minute of STRAIGHT TALK!

Surprising deeper subplot!

Since Dolly Parton is such an upbeat, playful persona, I only expected to have fun with this film. I was happily surprised by the integrity message that the film wraps up with. I also appreciated the cautionary note about turning one's major life decisions over to a talk radio (or television!) host who only has a few sound bites about your life. August 31, 2008

IT'S ONLY ME, BUT:

DOLLY'S CHARACER TAKES A JOB AT A RADIO STATION ON A TALK SHOW AND IT IS NEVER QUITE THE SAME. THE LISTENERS LOVE HER. HER BOSS IS GOING NUTS DUE TO ALL THE CONFUSION BUT THE RATINGS ARE SOARING. AND SHE IS CREATING HAVOIC FOR AN INVESTIGATING REPORTER TRYING TO DIG INTO HER PAST. GOOD MOVIE. JM June 1, 2008

How Can You Go Wrong?

This is Dolly doing what she does best - entertaining. The comedic lines and the fun she has in this movie are exceptional. It is an excellent movie that truly exemplifies some of her great, optimistic outlooks on life. It's a movie with Dolly Parton - it can't be bad. May 25, 2008

It's an open-matte transfer.

First things first to those who have indicated the film is cropped to 4:3, actually it's not. It's an open-matte transfer, which means the area at the top and bottom that would normally be cropped during projection is left open. Therefore, you aren't seeing it as intended, but you are not missing any picture information either. If you have a widescreen TV just fiddle with your aspect control to frame it properly. Still an anamorphic widescreen transfer would have be preferred.

As for the film, it is delightful, if completely improbably. Still, Dolly is her usual charming, watchable, comical self. She gives the rather formulaic plot a lot of heart. A cast such as this (Parton, Woods, Orbach, Bosco, etc) could have been used more effectively, but the film manages to entertain and bring a few laughs with the bargain. Some of Dolly's best onscreen lines are here, and after seeing the film several dozen times it still makes me laugh.

No extras, not even the "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" video that appeared on some editions of the videocassette. DVD could have been better, but the film is a fun way to spend 90 (or so) minutes. April 9, 2008

country girl in the city

Parton portrays a country girl moved to the city and does a superb job of it. Some funny moments and some tender ones too. Excellent movie for the whole family. December 1, 2007

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