IMDb user comments for
Private Parts (1997)

advertisement

Filter:

Best Chronological Prolific Authors Loved It Hated It Hide Spoilers:

Page 1 of 9:

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Index

89 comments in total

---

13 out of 16 people found the following comment useful :-
A little one-sided in it's story telling but it's all very funny, 11 January 2002
Author: bob the moo from Birmingham, UK

The true story of Howard Stern's "rise" from schoolboy nerd to leading DJ in the USA. This is adapted from his book and is a whirlwind ride through 30 years, with the main focus being on his career at small stations and his big break at NBC. The fact that it is from Stern himself means that the story focuses on his good sides and tends to brush over the more difficult issues relating to his insensitivity towards his wife etc, but that doesn't stop this being a funny enjoyable film.

Stern plays himself with a great sense of self - most of his jokes put himself down rather than being arrogant. This helps endear the audience to him with great effect and makes him more sympathetic. The comedy is very sharp (and rude) throughout and even if we don't get any great insights at least we have a good laugh.

Stern is good in the lead role (admittedly if he can't play himself what can he do!) And his colleagues are also good as themselves. Paul Giamatti is great as the put upon producer at NBC and the rest of the cast is filled out with weird characters. One complaint would be the copious amount of nudity in the film - I realise that it's a true story but it did seem to be put in just to get the audience at times (well....like Stern's show itself I guess).

Overall this plays like a rude Woody Allen film (funny narrative voice-overs) and it has a certain charm to it that towers over the smuttiness to make it feel a much nicer film than it is. Even if you don't know who Stern is (i.e. most people outside of America) this is a very funny enjoyable film.

---

11 out of 16 people found the following comment useful :-
This movie rocks!, 15 May 2002
Author: Mika Pykäläaho (bygis80@hotmail.com) from Järvenpää, Finland

Since I'm a Finn everything I know about Howard Stern I've learned from this film which is quite a shame, actually. I still have absolutely no troubles to understand what works and what doesn't and this movie most definitely works. Howard Stern works. "Private parts" is pretty much a terrific film. I've been watching it all over and over again and it's always entertaining, witty, extremely funny and amusing and it contains some of the best music in the world from Jimi Hendrix to The Ramones, Deep Purple to Ted Nugent and AC/DC to Ozzy Osbourne. I highly recommend this one and I have to remind you don't forget to watch the end credits too.

---

16 out of 27 people found the following comment useful :-
Howard Stern IS The King Of All Media!, 20 July 2001
Author: (fandangonoir)

This gem of a flick is the great Rockyesque story of shock jock Howard Stern's rise to fame and infamy. I was thinking this film was gonna really suck going by a lot of the movie previews prior to its release, but I was sorely and happily mistaken.

The film is perfectly structured, perfectly written, and it's absolute travesty that Howard wasn't nominated for an Oscar for best actor! Here's what the Oscar nominees shoulda been for this film: Howard Stern for Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Private Parts also manages to take a fresh approach on the old "woman having a noisy orgasm" comedy scene. Yes, this flick is one of the few cases where the movie is actually better than the book. Over, out, and all that jazz.

---

5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
a story of success and devotion to family., 17 January 1999
Author: witz-2 from Muskegon, MI

This movie is for everyone including those who "think" that they don't like Howard. It shows Howard as a regular guy who can do some outrageous bits. Some bits you like, some you don't. The two thoughts that I was left with leaving the theatre is 1) he is devoted to his wife and family, 2) he is a success story despite so very many obstacles. Love him or hate, all but the most prudish will enjoy this.

---

7 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
Awesome movie! One I never get tired of watching!, 2 July 2001

Author: mattymatt4ever from Jersey City, NJ

I am a big fan of Howard, and I'm sure fellow fans will also have a kick-a** time with this hilarious biopic of Stern's road to stardom. This is obviously not a professional biopic. There's even one scene, where Howard plays himself AS A TEEN!! He tries to patch it up in the voice-over by saying, "For this movie ya just have to believe." There are many hilarious antics, and if you're a fan of Stern I'm sure you will not stop laughing! If not, I can't say you'll have the time of your life. I've heard many critics say that this movie is even suited for those who disapprove of Stern's behavior. I can't say I agree, and for those who want to take the critics' word for it and give this movie a shot--enter at your own risk. Expect lots of Stern's typically crude, offensive, tasteless humor. Of course, you also get to see his sweeter side, and learn that his personality on radio does somewhat differ from that in real life. Just like Andrew Dice Clay, his crude actions are exaggerated, and he really isn't exactly like the pottymouthed jerk that the general public sees (or hears, in Howard's case). The open-minded moviegoer will probably come to that realization after viewing this movie, but others will be so turned off by Howard's crude antics that they won't feel compelled to sit through the entire running time--approximately two hours and fifteen minutes.

"Private Parts" is based on Howard's autobiography, so this is pretty much the life of Howard through the eyes of...Howard. Yet I can't say this movie is a glorification of Stern--though he obviously boasts jokingly about his God-like status among his many followers (And I'm one of them--GO HOWARD!!!). Personally, I still think there are a lot of closet Howard fans out there who are simply opposed (better yet, act like they're opposed) to him because they would feel humiliated to say they're not. There are hypocrites out there, and I know some of them. So for those of you who locked yourselves in that closet--get out and rent this movie! Stop your whining!

Many of Stern's fellow cast members on the show appear as themselves--Fred Norris, Jackie Martling, Robin Quivers, Gary Del'Abate. The other actors are good as well, especially Paul Giamatti who plays the NBC manager with a short, short fuse who springs from his seat if Howard were to utter the word "penis." Just his facial expressions alone crack me the hell up! I've never seen Howard's real wife Allison (I just found out she appears as an NBC operator, but I have to watch it again to spot her on screen), but Mary McCormack, who plays her, is absolutely BEE-U-TI-FUL!! Nice casting, Betty Thomas. She is stunning to look at, and the chemistry between she and Howard is electric. I sometimes forget that she's just PORTRAYING his wife.

If you're in the mood for Howard's comical vulgarities, gratuitous nudity, cool 80s music and a damn entertaining comedy that will never tire out--"Private Parts" is DEFINITELY worth seeing!! If you're not a Stern fan, I'm pretty sure you'll be croaking more than a sick frog, so don't start preaching your blasphemous thoughts on Howard. We really don't have the time.

My score: 8 (out of 10)

---

9 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :-
a look at the life of nasty Howard, 7 May 1999

Author: helpless_dancer from Broken Bow, Oklahoma

This film documents the life and times of radio talk host Howard Stern. While his younger years are displayed in a hit and miss fashion, the years concerning his radio heyday are nicely done. He started out as a local d.j., merely spinning records and doing weather. Becoming bored with this format, he chooses to do a more spontaneous show which causes trouble with his employers. When he reaches the top of the pile at NBC, his antics become even more outrageous which catapults him to enormous fame. Vulgar, but very funny. Go on and watch it.

---

4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Part Comedy, Part Biography, ALL GOOD!, 31 October 2002

Author: walternefflives from daly city, ca

Private Parts went way beyond the call of duty. I went expecting only solid laughs. That is all I really was asking for. It delievered on all fronts: writing, directing, and acting were all top notch. It left me dumbstruck that a movie with such lowbrow humor could hand out a solid emotionally driven story at the same time. I feel this has much to do with the mix of Howard Stern's raunchy humor combined with Betty Thomas' female touch. A terrfic film.

---

4 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
A Comedy Masterpiece, 1 March 1999

Author: Keef-4 from Fairfax, Virginia

This movie really captures the Howard Stern that the radio talk show host's fans love most - an average guy with great talent. A great script and a superb cast help to cut past the image of the racist pervert to reveal a down to earth guy. Howard and Len Blum created an excellent story that puts this side of Stern in the spotlight, but still contains some of the raunchiness that has made a superstar out of Howard. Paul Giamatti is great as "Pig Vomit".

10/10 - I'd love to see more from Howard in this medium, but this one will be hard to match.

---

2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
What can I say? A great story, very well told., 16 December 2006
Author: rzajac from Dongshih, Taiwan

I was astonished.

I just wanted to see a couple of emerging fave actors work, so I rented this, 9 years after it came out.

I was completely surprised. Stern is a fantastic film actor.

I guess this is a testimony to the power of fine production. I was expecting to have to wallow through an indulgent ego-fest. I wound up being moved. Good acting, good story, good production, a lot of soul.

It's also a little bit of a nostalgia rush for the boomers.

If you like a rockem-sockem cavalcade of wild humor and delightful conflict, check it out.

---

2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Very enjoyable movie, even if you never heard of Howard Stern, 30 October 1998
Author: Alain Petit from Brugge, Belgium

(rating: good) In Europe no one had even heard of Howard Stern before this movie came out. This is by no means a problem, because the movie is very enjoyable and there are some extremely hilarious scenes (the scenes with the "mentally challenged" and the pussy of Dicky Nixon come to mind). Of course, you have to like this kind of 'offensive' toilet humour. But I for one certainly do.

---

---

Page 1 of 9:

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Add another comment

---

Related Links

Plot summary	Amazon.com summary	Ratings
Awards	Newsgroup reviews	External reviews
Plot keywords	Main details	Your user comments
Your vote history