Today’s quick review: Joe Dirt. Joe Dirt (David Spade), an unfortunate redneck with a positive attitude, gets the chance to tell his story to the world when radio host Zander Kelly (Dennis Miller) brings him on the air. With Zander ridiculing him at every turn, Joe recounts the pathetic story of his life, from his abandonment at the Grand Canyon as a child to his eclectic upbringing to his quixotic, nationwide search for his parents.
Joe Dirt is a comedy about a lovable loser and the improbable story of his life. The movie tries to follow a simple recipe to find comedic success: raunchy humor, a colorful protagonist, and a pinch of heart. Unfortunately, none of these ingredients have their intended effect. Repetitive jokes, an over-reliance on lowbrow humor, a dubious lead, and an uncompelling story all keep Joe Dirt from the sweet spot it’s searching for.
Joe Dirt’s problems begin with its lead. Joe is meant to fill two roles in the film: a perpetual loser whose bad luck fuels the film’s comedy, and a gentle soul who gives the film a sense of heart. But Joe isn’t a strong enough character to carry the weight. His comedic contributions are mainly limited to redneck jokes and an unlucky streak, while the film’s attempts to make him seem sympathetic fall flat, even if they are tongue-in-cheek.
The script doesn’t help either. In principle, Joe’s travels give the movie an excuse to tour the country, introduce new supporting characters, and insert Joe in wild new situations. In practice, one stop on Joe’s journey is as good as another. The script isn’t creative enough to take advantage of the new scenarios. Instead, it falls back on the same basic gags: redneck stereotypes, Joe’s misfortune, crude humor, and a bit of slapstick.
Some viewers will appreciate what Joe Dirt is trying to do. Its jokes are meant to be simple, its has no pretensions, and it does succeed at being a comedy, earning a few smiles at the very least. But most viewers will find that its humor just doesn’t cut it. Joe Dirt has modest comedic value for the jokes that connect, but its low hit rate and mediocre characters mean that comedy fans would be better off looking elsewhere.
For a road comedy with a similar tone, better gags, and more heart, try Kingpin. For a comedy of similar tone and caliber, try The Benchwarmers. For a raunchy comedy that goes even farther but has more success, try BASEketball. For a more serious and more wondrous life’s story, try Big Fish or Forrest Gump.
5.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 5.5 for comedy with some potential but mixed execution.