Private Parts (1997)

Believe it or not, this short 'n' sweet biography of shock jock 
Howard Stern is rather endearing.  The self-proclaimed King of All 
Media-- a claim we'll confirm in a couple of hours, when the week-
end grosses are in-- is portrayed as a loving father and devoted 
husband.  He's just a guy with a raunchy radio act and, thus, is 
misunderstood by everyone but himself.  The makers of this movie 
make it very easy to like Mr. Stern.  Or at least tolerate him.  
His hair looks good, he's filmed under favorable camera conditions, 
and the snippets of his show are considerably toned done.  (Toned 
down, but still funny.  A kielbasa-swallowing stripper is something 
you don't see every day.  For my money, though, it's the bit with a 
woman and a woofer that's worth the price of admission.)  Much of 
PRIVATE PARTS is about the History of Howard, pre-NBC and before 
his battles with the program director he dubbed Pig Vomit.  We see 
some of his childhood, watch his marriage dissolve and repair, and 
wince in embarrassment at his early attempts behind the mike.  This 
is mandatory viewing for anyone who's ever worked in radio.  I was 
taken back to *my* first time in the booth, when the wrong button 
stopped George Thorogood's "Bad to the Bone" in mid-song.  I hear 
ya, Howard.  (Rated "R"/109 min.)

Grade: B
         
Copyright 1997 by Michael J. Legeros

Originally posted to triangle.movies as MOVIE HELL: March 14, 1997