Private Parts
(1997)
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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. |
American “shock jock” Howard Stern, notorious for his sexually explicit radio broadcasts and for his bust-ups with just about everybody, is the subject of this enthralling biographical comedy. Charting his rise from hopeless deejay to America's most outspoken radio celebrity, Private Parts presents Stern (here playing himself) as a deeply offensive human being, but it also reveals a softer, off-air side, particularly in his relationship with Alison (Catherine McCormack). Although obviously toned down, this rude, crude and highly entertaining adaptation of Stern's own book doesn't flinch from re-creating many of his raunchier moments. And director Betty Thomas (The Brady Bunch Movie, Doctor Dolittle) does playfully — and perhaps subversively — deconstruct the affair by showing the occasional chapter inserts being filmed. Despite the sometimes extreme obnoxiousness, you find yourself rooting for the man, as he pushes the broadcasting envelope and crosses swords with radio bigwigs.