Pecker (1998)

Director:

John Waters

Writer (WGA):

John Waters (written by)

Release Date:

25 September 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

He never realized how far 35 millimeters would take him.

Plot:

A Baltimore sandwich shop employee becomes an overnight sensation when photographs he's taken of his...

Plot Keywords:

One Word Title | Female Nudity | John Waters | Shoplifting | Homelessness

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Edward Furlong	...	Pecker
Christina Ricci	...	Shelley
Bess Armstrong	...	Dr. Klompus
Mark Joy	...	Jimmy
Mary Kay Place	...	Joyce
Martha Plimpton	...	Tina
Brendan Sexton III	...	Matt
Mink Stole	...	Precinct Captain
Lili Taylor	...	Rorey Wheeler
Patricia Hearst	...	Lynn Wentworth
Jean Schertler	...	Memama
Lauren Hulsey	...	Little Chrissy
Mo Fischer	...	T-Bone (as Maureen Fischer)
Donald Neal	...	Mr. Bozak
Carolyn Stayer	...	Miss Betty

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, graphic nudity, language and brief drug use.

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:12 | Argentina:13 | Canada:14A | France:U | Japan:R-15 | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/16 (video premiere) | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Israel:16

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

Polar Entertainment

Trivia:

The claw machine in the bar contains, among other things, a box of Ex-Lax, a box of Gas-X, a liquor bottle filled with a dark brown liquid (bourbon maybe?), and a cell phone.

Goofs:

Continuity: Pecker serves Miss Emily a sandwich with melted cheese. The close-up shows the sandwich with unmelted slices of cheese.

Quotes:

Jimmy: Pubic hair causes crime.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006)

Soundtrack:

I'm a Nut

7/10

John Waters' great gift may be the gift of promise: when you sit down to watch one of his movies, immediately you forget all your little troubles and get giddily amused by his sweetness. Even though his films are slight, that's a great thing. The music he uses throughout his films (here, Paul Evans' "Happy Go Lucky Me") is so happy and campy and fun, that it's near impossible not to like him. The trouble is, he plays everything conventionally. I love him for his embracing of all that's twisted, but he could benefit from playing with the art form a little bit. Have some multiple storylines, reference some things, have more visual gags (the billboard with "Happiness" in red is no accident). He should experiment a little more, and instead of passing over ill-timed bathroom humor, shock us like the Farelly Brothers might. But his heartfelt quality and love for his cartoon characters never ceases to charm me. As usual, his commentary is a pleasure to listen to. 7/10