Straight Talk

1992
PG
1h 31m

IMDb RATING

5.7/10

4.1K

YOUR RATING

A woman ditches her small town life for big city Chicago, where she becomes a sensation as a radio show host.

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Comedy Drama Romance

A woman ditches her small-town life for big-city Chicago, where she becomes a sensation as a radio-show host.A woman ditches her small-town life for big-city Chicago, where she becomes a sensation as a radio-show host.A woman ditches her small-town life for big-city Chicago, where she becomes a sensation as a radio-show host.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.7/10

4.1K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
The television advertisements specifically promoted this film as a "date movie" for male-female couples. "Real people" were interviewed outside early screenings, with each of the women commenting on how their husbands loved the picture and loved Dolly Parton. This strategy failed to pay off, however, as "Straight Talk" garnered mainly an audience of women and Parton's devotees.

Goofs
When Jack drops Shirlee off after their date, they pull up in front of her hotel. In the background, a sign for a cafe' says Open 24 Hours, but look closely: the cafe's interior is completely dark, indicating that it is closed.

Quotes
'Dr.' Shirlee Kenyon: Why even the Declaration of Independence only guaranties life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It doesn't say anything about fair. Doesn't even say you have the right to be happy. Just to pursue it.
Female Caller: But no one appreciates me, and I try to be fair, and they don't...
'Dr.' Shirlee Kenyon: Get down off the cross honey, somebody needs the wood!

Alternate versions
From the big-screen to the video screen, Straight Talk was edited down. Several scenes, including a limo-ride, a longer resturaunt scene with Shirley and Jack, and several other minor scenes were reinstated when it aired on ABC network tv.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: White Men Can't Jump/The Cutting Edge/The Power of One/Ruby/Noises Off... (1992)

Soundtracks
Blue Grace
Written and Performed by Dolly Parton

User reviews30

Review

Featured review

6/10

Dolly Parton sweetly sincere

Shirlee Kenyon (Dolly Parton) loses her job for talking too much with the dance students. She loves giving advice. She is tired of her small town and her dismissive unemployed boyfriend Steve (Michael Madsen). She packs up for Chicago. She's trying to retrieve $20 she dropped on a bridge when reporter Jack Russell (James Woods) mistakenly jumps in to save her thinking she's trying to jump. She gives Janice (Teri Hatcher) advice which she uses to break up with boyfriend Jack Russell. Next, Shirlee gets a radio station receptionist job. She is mistaken for the new radio talk show doctor that manager Alan Riegert (Griffin Dunne) had hired. Riegert fires both Shirlee and the producer. Her small town charm makes her a big success and Riegert has to rehire her but only if she pretends to be a doctor which the owner demanded.

The story is a bit hokey but Dolly Parton has that sweet aw-shucks personality. It works for her. It has her down home charms. The movie has some light fun. It doesn't have big laughs but it's a sweet rom-com.