"He was offensive, he was obnoxious, he was disgusting...you want me to go on?"
PRIVATE PARTS (R) 
Can you believe it? The phenomenally successful and ever-controversial shock-jock Howard Stern hits the silver screen with Private Parts, the film version of his book by the same name. Directed by Ivan Reitman and starring the radio team of Howard Stern, Robin Quivers, and Fred Norris (playing themselves), Private Parts chronicles Stern's life thus far, from his gawky childhood, to his early struggles in radio, to his rise as host of what is now the top-rated radio show in America. The film tells itself from Stern's perspective, with continual voice-over narrations from the DJ. Perhaps not surprisingly, the film also contains the type of (a-hem) controversial material contained in his syndicated radio/TV show. Sex jokes, racial slurs, anything that offends...nothing's off-limits for Stern, and as the film portrays, this is the key to his success. All the while, the film tries to show Stern's "other side"--the vulnerable, insecure, personal side of a man who is deeply in love with his wife Alison (played by Mary McCormack), is ferociously loyal to his friends, and steadfastly stands by his beliefs. Admirable, ain't he?
The truth is that I have never been a fan of Howard Stern, and seeing this film hasn't changed my opinion on that front. However, even as a non-fan Private Parts comes in as a surprisingly funny, entertaining, and well-constructed film. Yes it's a self-serving portrayal of Stern, yes it is quite raunchy in parts, and yes, Private Parts will offend. Nevertheless, it does tell a story that at least for me makes Stern and the Stern phenomenon a bit more understandable. "Who does this guy think he is, anyway?" The question has been posed by many, and from Private Parts it seems that Stern is, simply, an image. Does Private Parts reveal the "true" Howard Stern, the Howard Stern behind the image? I suppose only Stern himself knows the answer to that one...and he probably likes it that way...
Responses from cyberspace--thanks for writing, folks!
jaykay2@hotmail.com
gives this movie star: "The
movie accurately depicts the real Stern and his persona that he fools peole
with daily. That persona only appears when he gets off the radio and realises
that if he continues to act as childishly and unreasonably as he does on
the radio he'll end up a very lonely, very ugly old man." (8/30/01)
shotgunshells@hotmail.com says: "Why didn't I rate this movie? because 1 star is FAR FAR FAR to excellent to rate this movie. THIS MOVIE WOULD HAVE TO IMPROVE A WHOLE, WHOLE, LOT TO BE TERRIBLE!!! I hate howard stern. God bless the people who are convincing his sporsors to take him off the air" (7/27/99)
macleod@networkpaging.com
gives this movie stars: "An
interesting expose into the life of this madman. Well acted& directed." (12/12/98)
byrddog says: "the movie was awsome" (9/22/98)
peturb@islandia.is
gives this movie star: "I
have dubbed it "FANTACRAP" A mixture of fantasy and crap!" (6/14/98)
Fed-X@cyberdude.com
gives this movie stars: "Damn
good movie, best I've seen for a while, especially the on air orgasm." (6/9/98)
GoffD@ssu.southwest.msus.edu
gives this movie stars: "Private
Parts was a great movie and shows that even though Howard Stern is
mostly known for having a filth infested mouth, there is some good heart
in him. I really wish to see the fifty minutes cut out of the movie! Great
underdog story and the AC/DC "You Shook Me All Night Long" was
great finishing touch! Too bad the movie didn't rake in the success of
the book though." (3/24/98)
sila@greennet.net
gives this movie stars: "My
husband hates my mouth." (8/30/97)
Robin Shapiro gives this
movie stars: "What
an outrageous movie! Thanks for the barrel of laughs!" (4/28/97)
Dnolan.4u@aol.com
gives this movie stars: "I
am a listner of the radio show for as long as I can take it. Then I tune
to somthing else. I saw the movie and before I new it, it was over. I found
the movie to live up to all the hype. Its had plenty of hype. Well worth
the ticket price." (3/23/97)
