Straight Talk

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Straight Talk

PG

1992

1h 31m

Romance

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

46%

Tomatometer

13 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Leaving her rural life in Arkansas, Shirlee Kenyon moves to Chicago and seeks employment at a radio station. When a mix-up finds Shirlee sitting in as the host on a show for call-in advice, her common-sense wisdom wins over fans. Soon she's "Doctor Shirlee," an in-demand on-air personality, but, of course, she's lacking in the proper credentials, a fact that journalist Jack Russell already suspects. Will Shirlee be able to keep her new gig if the truth gets out?

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

01/01/2000

2/4

What's really wrong with Straight Talk is a failure of nerve. The screenplay is so painfully conventional that it's clear nobody involved with the movie wanted to push it into new ground or let it take chances.

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Kristin Battestella

InSession Film

07/25/2023

Despite the enjoyable Chicago scenery, the on air confessions, break ups, make ups, and horns honking finale are seriously predictable, but thankfully, this remains a cute charmer with a little something to put a smile on anyone’s face.

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Rachel Wagner

Rachel's Reviews (YouTube)

08/25/2020

Cute little romcom with the always likable Dolly Parton

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Vanessa Letts

The Spectator

07/25/2018

Listening to all her callers didn't do the trick for me. I left the cinema feeling more depressed than ever.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

06/17/2015

2/4

...an agreeable yet hopelessly forgettable little romcom.

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Neil Cohen

Echo Magazine

07/29/2007

3/5

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Julian S

@akajulianscott Mar 27

Forgettable flick, but Dolly and her tunes make it worth a watch.

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09/04/2020

Empathy for Our working class Strugles No "Clinton" deplorables Is the reporter going to destroy dolly it really looks like it with his treachery Every bodys characater is developed even the x husband no cheap shots unfortuneley Big CE0 is tottaly understanding which neeveear happens in real life . but otherwise it/s a fiver love dollys delivery ps best documentry XYChelsea betcha can't watch ten minutes and turan it off thanks Orion the elder

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11/27/2019

Great, uplifting movie!!

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02/03/2019

Totally formulaic romcom. There is really nothing new to see here. But it's entertaining enough, and Dolly is adorable.

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01/04/2016

Everybody needs saving. A simple small town girl arrives in the big city of Chicago with little going for her other than her good looks and big mouth. A man recognizes her talent and sticks her on the radio as the next big thing. He falls in love with her, but the simple girl stays in her lane and becomes bigger than her wildest imagination. The fame may be a gift and a curse. "I'm really more of a lover than fighter." "I can see that." Barnet Kellman, director of Key Exchange, and episodes from the television series Designing Women, Mad About You, ER, Murphy Brown, and Ally McBeal, delivers Straight Talk. The storyline for this picture is very blah, 80s cliché (despite being a 90s film), and has mediocre writing. The cast delivers below par performances and includes Dolly Parton, James Woods, Michael Madsen, Teri Hatcher, Griffin Dunne, and John Sayles. "Tinkle or get off the potty." I recently came across this on Showtime Anytime and decided to randomly give it a viewing. This is okay, and fun to watch Dolly in her element; but the love story with her and James Woods was not believable and felt awkward. Overall, this is a below average romantic comedy that I wouldn't go too out of my way to see. "I just tell the truth and the truth as I see it." Grade: C-

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03/31/2014

dolly is gr8 in this rom-com

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Barnet Kellman

Director

Dolly Parton

Shirlee Kenyon

James Woods

Jack Russell

Griffin Dunne

Alan Riegert

Michael Madsen

Steve

Deirdre O'Connell

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Synopsis

Leaving her rural life in Arkansas, Shirlee Kenyon moves to Chicago and seeks employment at a radio station. When a mix-up finds Shirlee sitting in as the host on a show for call-in advice, her common-sense wisdom wins over fans. Soon she's "Doctor Shirlee," an in-demand on-air personality, but, of course, she's lacking in the proper credentials, a fact that journalist Jack Russell already suspects. Will Shirlee be able to keep her new gig if the truth gets out?

Director: Barnet Kellman
Producer: Robert Chartoff, Fred Berner
Screenwriter: Craig Bolotin, Patricia Resnick
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Hollywood Pictures, Touchwood Pacific Partners 1, Sandollar Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 3, 1992, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $20.1M
Runtime: 1h 31m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround, Stereo

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