Parties intimes

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.

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.

Another poster had the following heading for their review of "Private Parts":

A self-serving and unrealistic look at a funny man

And I totally agree. I like Howard Stern. I don't love or idolize him like many of his fans do but I think he fills a necessary niche for people.

But this movie reeked of self promotion and an attempt to win over people (mostly women) who didn't or don't like him. This was confirmed when my wife (who hated Stern) turned to me after the movie was over and said "he's so nice...I liked it!" Oye. The kiss of death.

This movie was a big hit in it's opening weekend but quickly fizzled out. I know why. His true, core fans flocked to see it the first weekend and were put off by it's "nice" moments (all the cuddly stuff with his wife and kids...the sorrowful, thoughtful look he gets before he hits it big..etc.) This movie is NOT what hardcore Stern fans want or were looking for. Oh, yes...there's the nudity and the "naughty" Stern behavior. But for some reason, despite some of it being taken directly from the original airings, these scenes have a cleaned/scrubbed feeling to it which zaps them of their spark, fun and originality. The scenes are simply NOT funny, daring or in the slightest way dirty or daring. It does not push the envelope at all.

After the opening weekend, most non Stern fans would not go near it because they feared (incorrectly) that the movie was near pornographic and anarchic. So the film fell into a void between the (disappointed )hardcore Stern fans and the non fans.

What the film could've been is something along the lines of a Monty Python film. It needed an edge or some zippy editing to move it along.

What's amazing about the film is how completely, shockingly CONVENTIONAL it is.

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.

I was working as an usher at my local cinema when I first saw this movie, so I saw it quite a few times and it seemed to get better with every viewing. The story is of American disc jockey Howard Stern and his rise to superstardom. It has a great script with good scenes especially the one through the end titles.