An Exercise In Nonsense

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

It's hard to describe "Polyester". It's not a camp movie. It's different. It does have some funny moments. It does have some really funny ideas. And Divine is something else. Almost always watchable in this one. The only scene that he didn't really pull off was the ending. There is a lot of really funny stuff in this one. On the flip side, there's a lot cringe worthy stuff in it too. John Waters would later lose his way. I guess he couldn't work with a budget. John Waters was a unique filmmaker. There will never be another one like him. I'm saying I'm a fan of his movies but he is a director that I think should not be lost to younger generations. "Polyester", for better or worse, is one of a kind.

Polyester (1981): Dir: John Waters / Cast: Divine, Edith Massey, Tab Hunter, David Samson, Mink Stole: Released with "ordorama" where cards are distributed for scratch and sniff action when a number flashes on screen. John Waters starts us out with a rose at number 1 but eventually unleashes every disgusting smell imaginable. This is Waters' first R rated film after directing the X rated Pink Flamingos and Female Trouble. Divine plays Francine Fishpaw whose life is coming undone. Her glue sniffing son is the Baltimore Foot Stomper. Her daughter is pregnant and dating a rebel. She cheers with glee claiming the "F" on her report card was "fantastic." Francine's husband runs a local pornography theatre and overjoyed by the reaction of the protesters. This is twisted and will offend certain tastes but it contains improvements within Waters' skill. Divine is a sight struggling to be a good house wife while battling the negative surrounding her. Edith Massey is hideously adorable as former maid Cuddles, Francine's closest friend whose mentality is challenged. Tab Hunter plays Todd Tomorrow whose wayward charm connects to Francine's fantasy. David Samson plays Elmer Fishpaw who smiles at controversy. Mink Stole plays the sleazy secretary whom Elmer joins in harassing his wife with their affair. Questionable humour yet hilarious spin attacking suburban lifestyles that reek of phony portrayals. Score: 9 / 10

Polyester was the very first John Water's film I saw, and I have to say that it was also the "worst" movie I had seen up to that point.Water's group of "talent" included several people who I am sure worked for food, and were willing to say the lines Waters wrote. Every thing about the movie is terrible, acting, camera, editing, and the story about a woman played by 300 lb transvestite Divine was purely absurd.That said, I have to recommend this film because it is very funny, and you won't believe the crap that happens to poor Francine. Her son huffs solvents and stomps unsuspecting women's feet at the grocery store. Her daughter is the sluttiest slut in town. Her husband is a cackling A-hole of a pornographer who does everything in his power to embarrass and humiliate poor Francine.Francine's only friend is played by Edith Massey, possibly the worst actress ever. Edith looks and sounds like she is reading the lines off a cue card and has never seen the script prior to filming.Despite all of Francine's travails, Waters cooks up a fabulous Hollywood ending and everyone (who survives) lives happily ever after.

John Waters is truly a great director. I had seen Pink Flamingoes but not to much of his earlier work. I am more familiar with his later works like Serial Mom or Cecil B. Demented, which is all great stuff. Polyester is the bridge, as so many people put it, between his disgusting yet entertaining earlier work to more mainstream films like Hairspray.Divine plays Francine Fishpaw. A rather large lady who is married to a man who owns a pornographic theater. Her son is a drug attic who loves to smash womens feet and her daughter is a wannabe Go-Go dancer who gets herself pregnant. Francine has only one friend in the world and that is Cuddles who is wonderfully played by Edith Massey. After Francine catches her husband sleeping with another woman (Mink Stole) Francine's life starts going into a downward spiral as she can't control her children and she becomes an alcoholic. Only, when she meets a man named Todd Tomorrow (Tab Hunter) do things start to change... or do they? I had a grin on my face throughout the whole movie. The storyline sounds pretty depressing but only John Waters could have pulled this off and turn it into a complete comedy. Divine is right at home in her role as Francine. You truly do feel completely sorry for her. Edith Massey is excellent in the role as Cuddles and is definitely the most likable character in the whole movie. What made this movie so great for me was when this came out in theaters I was to young to see this. I just recently bought it on DVD and it comes with an actual Scratch N' Sniff card for the movie! Great stuff! This movie gets a 9/10 from me.