Rating: R
Genre:
Comedy
Release Date: 09/07/2004
SubTitles: English
Dubbed: English
Sound: DD1/DDS
Run Time: 86 Minutes
Flags: Violence, Not For Children, Adult Language, Adult Humor
Distributor/Studio: New Line Home Video
After making a name for himself with such underground gross-out epics as
Pink Flamingos and
Desperate Living, director
John Waters made a bid for somewhat wider acceptance with this black comedy, which is sedate only by the standards of his previous work. Francine Fishpaw (
Divine) is a housewife whose life has become a living hell. Her husband Elmer (
David Samson) runs a porno theater (currently showing the classic
My Burning Bush) and is having an affair with secretary Sandra (
Mink Stole), a vision of sleaze in
Bo Derek-style cornrow braids who informs Elmer, "Children would only get in the way of our erotic lifestyle!" Francine has two teenage children, Dexter (
Ken King), who likes to sniff glue and stomp on women's feet, and Lulu (
Mary Garlington), a brazen slut who hangs out with overage juvenile delinquent Bobo (
Stiv Bators) and gleefully anticipates her next abortion. Francine's best friend, Cuddles (
Edith Massey), is a slightly insane heiress who is somehow convinced she's a debutante. Francine's life has become so miserable that her dog commits suicide rather than witness it, but a light appears on the horizon -- Todd Tomorrow (
Tab Hunter), the handsome and dashing owner of a local drive-in specializing in art films (their current bill is a
Margurerite Duras triple feature), with whom Dawn enters into a torrid affair. Subversive on all fronts,
Polyester was originally shown in "Odorama" (patrons were given a card with ten scratch-and-sniff patches, to be smelled at key points in the action) and featured a romantic theme song sung by that new hitmaking duo,
Deborah Harry and
Bill Murray.
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
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