Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

Straight Talk

Play trailer Poster for Straight Talk PG Released Apr 3, 1992 1h 31m Romance Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
46% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Leaving her rural life in Arkansas, Shirlee Kenyon (Dolly Parton) 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 (James Woods) already suspects. Will Shirlee be able to keep her new gig if the truth gets out?
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

Straight Talk

Critics Reviews

View All (13) Critics Reviews
Louis Black Austin Chronicle Rated: 2/5 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 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. Rated: 2/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Kristin Battestella InSession Film 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. Jul 25, 2023 Full Review Rachel Wagner Rachel's Reviews (YouTube) Cute little romcom with the always likable Dolly Parton Aug 25, 2020 Full Review Vanessa Letts The Spectator Listening to all her callers didn't do the trick for me. I left the cinema feeling more depressed than ever. Jul 25, 2018 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...an agreeable yet hopelessly forgettable little romcom. Rated: 2/4 Jun 17, 2015 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (144) audience reviews
Audience Member 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 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member Great, uplifting movie!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/27/19 Full Review Audience Member Totally formulaic romcom. There is really nothing new to see here. But it's entertaining enough, and Dolly is adorable. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/03/19 Full Review Audience Member 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- Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member dolly is gr8 in this rom-com Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a fun Dolly movie her cute little sayings make it funny. I love her its a good time forget your problems and have fun kinda movie. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Straight Talk

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Born Yesterday 25% 27% Born Yesterday Watchlist While You Were Sleeping 81% 79% While You Were Sleeping Watchlist TRAILER for While You Were Sleeping I.Q. 45% 48% I.Q. Watchlist The Cutting Edge 57% 77% The Cutting Edge Watchlist Sleepless in Seattle 75% 75% Sleepless in Seattle Watchlist TRAILER for Sleepless in Seattle Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Leaving her rural life in Arkansas, Shirlee Kenyon (Dolly Parton) 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 (James Woods) 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
Most Popular at Home Now