Pecker - DVD Review

MOVIE
VIDEO
AUDIO
EXTRAS
OVERALL

Two Discs (See Hairspray review for first disc)
1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
English Dolby Digital 5.1
English
Theatrical Trailer
Audio Commentary
Snapshot Gallery
Interview With Still Photographer
Run Time: 87 Minutes
Foldout Case

MOVIE
Rated R for language, Waters perversion and, according to imdb.com, "graphic nudity."

I entered into the John Waters fan base rather late. In fact, I was just really getting to know his work as Serial Mom breezed through theaters, so I missed it. The first NEW Waters movie I saw in the theater (having seen the 25th anniversary re-release of Pink Flamingos) was Pecker. I was with James, who delighted in announcing to everybody in the Cineplex that we were very interested in seeing John Waters' Pecker. I noted, at that point, how the posters had downplayed John's name above the potentially offensive word. It was thrilling, so few people had seen his work, but so many knew, I felt like I'd joined an exclusive society that you can only get into if you know what the hell the words "singing asshole" means (and no, he's not that jerk at the Holiday Party.) Pecker, like a few of Waters' films and many of the Coen Brothers' films, did not impress me initially. I found it funny, but not hilarious, certainly not up to par with Waters' previous brilliant effort Serial Mom, but enjoyable in a strange way. The plot meanders and takes its time, moving from leisurely joke to leisurely joke. Having read Waters' book Shock Value, I recognized a lot of moments from the movie from John's own childhood or that of his friends growing up. In that way, I guess, Divine's spirit is in this film. But, like some of his other films and those wacky Coen Brothers', subsequent viewings revealed a gem.
Pecker (Edward Furlong), named because he pecks at his food, not what you were thinking, you dirty bird, is an amateur photographer in Baltimore (where else with Waters), working at hoagie store that lets him display his pictures on the wall. His girlfriend Shelly (Christina Ricci in one of her string of oddball roles allowing her to grow up without us noticing) works at a laundry mat and is terribly stressed about all the people doing perverted things such as, enjoying themselves too much on top of the dryer. Pecker's simple small town life is upset along with his families and friends when he gets discovered by Rorey (Lili Taylor) a promoter thinking Pecker could be the next big New York photographic sensation. The young actors in Pecker are all quite good with standout performances from Christina Ricci and Brendan Sexton III. Patty Hearst (yes, THAT Patty Hearst who likes to be called Patricia now) makes her second appearance in a Waters film and, again, is funny and enjoyable. The supporting cast is uniformly what I look for in John's work, strange, interesting looking and unique. Most unique is Pecker's grandmother who he calls Memama (Jean Schertler), Memama keeps a puppet of Mary the Virgin Mother in an attic shrine, occasionally making her mouth move to Memama's inept ventriloquism line of "Full of grace!" then proclaiming it a miracle. STRANGE!

VIDEO QUALITY
Being a much newer movie, Pecker had a DVD struck when it first was released when DVD was fairly new, this image transfer is no different than the previous one. That being said, the transfer is clean and clear, presenting the film's original theatrical ratio of 1.85:1. Little grain is evident and the film is nearly devoid of scratches. Never has a Waters film looked so good.

AUDIO QUALITY
Pecker is also mixed in a 5.1 Dolby Digital track that sounds a lot more like enhanced stereo with little sound in the rear two speakers, but as with his other films, this doesn't matter much, who needs a comedy with incredible 5.1 sound? (Meet The Parents, I'm looking in your direction with your DTS track)

EXTRAS
As with all the discs in the John Waters Collection, the only real extras are a commentary track and trailer. However, Pecker does have a short still gallery of the pictures shot by Pecker and an interview with the photographer who actually shot the pictures in the film. Once again, John delivers a superior commentary that reaffirms this film is a nostalgic trip for him back to his childhood. He's almost giddy throughout the track, pointing out small tidbits here and there and gleeful at the fact that he got away with putting his "Written & Directed by John Waters" credit over two rats having sex in a garbage can.

CLOSING THOUGHTS
Pecker is resounding proof that it can take more than one or two viewings to truly appreciate what John is doing in these little movies as he calls them. Then there are some (perhaps most) who will never appreciate his work, making it better for all the rest of us. Note: The DVD of Pecker in this Volume of the John Waters Collection, sold together with Hairspray, is identical to the previous DVD release of Pecker. However, it is the only way to get Hairspray, so I recommend biting the bullet, sending Pecker to the used DVD lot and picking it up.

See The John Waters Collection, Volume 1 (Part I - Hairspray)