Sag's offen, Shirlee

Shirlee Kenyon (Dolly Parton) loses her job for talking too much with the dance students. She loves giving advice. She is tired of her small town and her dismissive unemployed boyfriend Steve (Michael Madsen). She packs up for Chicago. She's trying to retrieve $20 she dropped on a bridge when reporter Jack Russell (James Woods) mistakenly jumps in to save her thinking she's trying to jump. She gives Janice (Teri Hatcher) advice which she uses to break up with boyfriend Jack Russell. Next, Shirlee gets a radio station receptionist job. She is mistaken for the new radio talk show doctor that manager Alan Riegert (Griffin Dunne) had hired. Riegert fires both Shirlee and the producer. Her small town charm makes her a big success and Riegert has to rehire her but only if she pretends to be a doctor which the owner demanded.

The story is a bit hokey but Dolly Parton has that sweet aw-shucks personality. It works for her. It has her down home charms. The movie has some light fun. It doesn't have big laughs but it's a sweet rom-com.

Shirlee (Parton) loses her job and breaks up with her boyfriend all in one day. She decides to start over in Chicago, but when she sets out to answer phones in a radio station, she's mistaken for the new advice guru, and she's a hit! While it turns out that her gift for giving advice is finally taking her places, the reporter who is investigating her wants to find out why she's qualified to give advice. If they can get past their fighting and annoying each other, they might just be perfect for each other.

This is one of my favorite Dolly movies. I love her early 90's outfits and her big hair, and she's so relatable as a girl trying to start over and get a life going for herself in Chicago. She's known for her witty bon mots and positive life philosophy from her various interviews, and here she is given free reign to express that part of her personality and it works. She's funny and kind, and down to earth.

This film has higher production values than some of her other films, and it shows as she's teamed up with a good script and other actors like Griffin Dunne, James Woods and Michael Madsen, amd more, who are all old hands. She gets to show off her comic timing and her characteristic warmth, and plays well against the more experienced performers. James Woods is great as the guy out for a story who learns what really matters when he meets Dolly's character Shirlee. I personally feel like he's a very unlikely romantic lead, not being conventionally attractive or warm, and yet you can believe he'd be a hard boiled Chicago reporter.

This film is warm and sweet, like home cooked apple pie. It's not particularly novel in it's approach to the rom com plot or genre, but it really hits the spot. It's heart warming and funny, and has enough going on to keep you interested, and Dolly's go-getter attitude and strong sense of self make her a more interesting romantic heroine than most. If you're a Dolly fan, this is one of her best.

See It If: you've ever wanted to break free and start over, or if you're the person all your friends go to for advice. A lovely, funny film with early 90's charm.

A simple and inspiring movie. Dolly Parton's performance was outstanding!!! Got a little choked up at the end. A great movie when you want something inspiring and touching. A pure entertainment kind of deal. Disagree with Ebert's criticism that the movie is not representative of the radio or journalism business as I really don't care; i didn't watch the movie to be informed or educated about either of these businesses.

Dolly Parton, James Woods, Griffin Dunne, and Michael Madsen star in this warm, funny, and terrific film. Dolly Parton stars as Shirlee Kenyon, a down-to-earth dance instructor who has just been fired. Then she decides to go to Chicago where she hopes to make it big. Soon she becomes Chicago's leading radio personality and everything starts going her way. Anybody who likes a funny movie should definitely watch this.

Dolly starts out working at a dance hall but gets fired by her boss (played by John Sayles) and is sick of her abusive boyfriend (Michael Madsen) so she leaves for Chicago with his bowling ball.

Through a highly improbable set of circumstances, she becomes a radio 'therapist'; it comes easy to her since she's thoughtful, has common sense and some down-home charm. Soon she has a national following as 'Dr. Shirley.'

Soon she has James Woods' reporter following her around. He smells a story and thinks she might be a fake but cannot prove it. He also falls for her.

Comedy is supplied by Griffin Dunne's maniac/radio station exec, a very funny scene with Dr. Shirley on a talk show, and the chemistry between James Woods & Dolly Parton, two actors you might not think of in the same galaxy but who work together very well.

Small movie has a lot going for it. 7/10.