IT'S GROSS AND DUMB, TOO.Byline: Bob Strauss Film Critic THOUGHT THE standards and practices of television networks were inhibiting Jenny McCarthy's brand of broad, gross humor? Wrong. They were just cushioning us from its unadulterated un·a·dul·ter·at·ed adj. 1. Not mingled or diluted with extraneous matter; pure. See Synonyms at pure. 2. Out-and-out; utter: the unadulterated truth. stupidity. Now that she's starring in a self-penned movie comedy, ``Dirty Love,'' it's clear that McCarthy's wit is as dull as dishwater dish·wa·ter n. Water in which dishes are to be or have been washed. dishwater Noun 1. water in which dishes have been washed 2. blond, even when fully unleashed. To begin with, there's the original premise. McCarthy's L.A. photographer Rebecca comes home early one night to find her arrogant model fiance Richard (Victor Webster Victor Webster is a Canadian actor born on February 7, 1973 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He is best known for his television work on Days of our Lives, Mutant X, and Charmed. Biography Webster's parents were a police officer and a hair-stylist. ) with another woman. Much weeping and wailing and face-making ensues. Then Rebecca's moronic mo·ron n. 1. A stupid person; a dolt. 2. Psychology A person of mild mental retardation having a mental age of from 7 to 12 years and generally having communication and social skills enabling some degree of academic or girlfriends Michelle (Carmen Electra “Tara Patrick” redirects here. For the porn star, see Tera Patrick. Tara Leigh Patrick (born April 20 1972), professionally known as Carmen Electra,[1] is an American glamour model, television personality, dancer, singer, and actress. , trying and failing to act ghetto) and Carrie, a talentless aspiring actress (played by Kam Heskin), convince her that the way to get back at Richard is to throw new lovers of her own in his face. Since L.A.'s eligible male dating pool is composed entirely of geeks, losers and pervs, every time Rebecca attempts this, she suffers mortifying mor·ti·fy v. mor·ti·fied, mor·ti·fy·ing, mor·ti·fies v.tr. 1. To cause to experience shame, humiliation, or wounded pride; humiliate. 2. humiliation. If only she'd realize that her best guy friend John (Eddie Kaye Thomas from the much better ``American Pie'' series) adores her and would treat her right, Rebecca's problems would be solved. And we'd be spared the rest of the movie. But alas, footage had to be exposed. Not only does ``Dirty Love's'' predictable plot feel lame in the wake of such clever R-rated comedies as ``Wedding Crashers'' and ``The 40-Year-Old Virgin,'' the gags in the latter films were better, too. Michelle is a body waxer wax·er n. One that polishes with or applies wax. by trade, for example, but none of her scenes at work can compare to Steve Carell's hilarious hair-removal ordeal. One thing you can say for McCarthy: The woman knows no vanity. In the course of ``Dirty Love,'' Rebecca gets vomited on, strip-searched and, well, left without feminine protection at the worst possible time. Then there's the guy who really likes fish ... Some of this is so outrageous you can't help but laugh. Yet director John Asher stages most of it with such flat presentation and inept timing that most of the jokes shrivel up and die right before our eyes. Asher and McCarthy were married when they made ``Dirty Love.'' They've separated since. Draw your own conclusions. Bob Strauss, (818) 713-3670 bob.strauss(at)dailynews.com DIRTY LOVE - One and one half stars (R: sex, nudity, drug use, language, mild violence) Starring: Jenny McCarthy, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Carmen Electra, Kam Heskin, Victor Webster. Director: John Asher. Running time: 1 hr. 35 min. Playing: In wide release. In a nutshell: McCarthy wrote and stars in this raunchy raun·chy adj. raun·chi·er, raun·chi·est Slang 1. a. Obscene, lewd, or vulgar: "[He] sex comedy from a woman's point of view - a really dumb woman's point of view. |
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