Straight Talk (1992)

My Review

The southern charm of Dolly Parton is the cornerstone of “Straight Talk.” This comedy tells the story of a country girl from Arkansas who is hired as a radio talk show host in Chicago, on the (false) assumption that she is a clinical psychologist. The ruse continues for quite some time, as her down-home, cornpone “straight talk” is popular with listeners.

The performances of Dolly Parton and co-star James Woods are actually quite good, under the adequate direction by Barnet Kellman and the passable screenplay by Craig Bolotin. The supporting cast includes Griffin Dunne, Michael Madsen, Teri Hatcher, Spalding Gray, Jerry Orbach, Philip Bosco, Jay Thomas, Deidre O’Connell, John Sayles, Amy Morton, Charles Fleischer, Paula Newsom, Tracy Letts, Paul Dinello, and John Gegenhuber as The Waiter.

The so-so, yet watchable, “Straight Talk” underperformed at the box office for Hollywood Pictures, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, and The Walt Disney Company. It was filmed in the windy city of Chicago, Illinois.