Pecker (dvd)

What can I say? It's John Waters' Pecker. It's delightful. I can't say I have enjoyed many things more than John Waters' Pecker. John Waters' Pecker is an utter delight. I could talk for days about John Waters' Pecker. All kidding aside, it's pretty dang funny. It's way more tame than earlier Waters films. More in line with "Cry Baby" or "Cecil B. Demented". So, don't expect a "Rosary Job" from "Lobstora". In all honesty, it is probably my favorite of his movies. There is a genuine mix of raunchiness and innocents that is actually convicing to me even though it is over the top... well it's flippin' john Waters *shrug* Whatcha gonna do? It's one of my Favorites. "Full Of Grace!!!" - Me Maw Maw

Some movies feel like comfort food. This one feels like someone handed me a glitter-covered sandwich, told me not to ask questions, and somehow… it still hits every time. I rented Pecker on Amazon Prime Video during one of my “let’s revisit the 90s and feel something again” phases, and wow… this movie did not just hold up, it fully reminded me why I love John Waters in the first place. The plot? Sure, it exists. But that’s not why you’re here. You’re here for the vibe. You’re here for the absolute unhinged energy of a family that feels like they were assembled by throwing darts at a board labeled “normal behavior” and missing every single time. And I mean that with love. Every character feels like they’re living in their own slightly off reality, but somehow it all blends together into this weirdly wholesome chaos. It’s absurd, it’s nonsensical, and yet there’s this genuine warmth underneath it all. Like yes, this family is wild… but they love each other in their own strange little universe. That’s what makes it work. Visually, it has that classic late 90s indie feel—gritty but colorful, a little messy but very intentional. And the humor? It’s not trying to be clever or polished. It just is. It leans fully into the weird and lets you either come along for the ride or get left behind. For me, I’m in the passenger seat with snacks, fully committed. If you already love John Waters, this is one of those films that feels like home. And honestly? This might be my favorite of his. It’s a little softer, a little sweeter, but still has that signature “what did I just watch and why did I love it?” energy. Five stars, no notes. Just vibes, chaos, and a reminder that sometimes the weirdest stories are the ones that stick with you the longest.

We really liked this movie and will often make reference to it when we see relatable things and then we laugh at ourselves because no one knows what our reference source is. But we know~

A very fun film. If not mistaken it starts off in the back alley with two rats screwing. A young Photographer that doesn't fit in. An enjoyable movie and great casting.

I know that some John Waters fans who long for the days of Divine and David Lochary don't care as much for movies like this one. Believe me, I love Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble, Desperate Living, Polyester, etc. (and wish that things like Multiple Maniacs could be released on DVD, too!). But I think that Pecker stays true to Waters' style of writing and directing, as well as his sense of humor. The story is amusing, the jokes are often in bad taste (which, is how they're supposed to be), and the acting is intentionally mediocre (at least intentional in most cases, I think). I like that the story takes the Baltimore protagonists to New York, where they fail to fit in and can't wait to get back to Baltimore. The Mariolatry humor is silly, but it never fails to make me laugh. I think if someone wants to be super critical of this film and over-compare it to Waters' earlier work, they should get over it. I think this film shows that Waters was still as funny, relevant, and smart in the late 90s as he was in the 70s. I think this stands as an excellent "intro to Waters" film for those who are interested in his not-so-family-friendly work (that is, movies that are not "Hairspray" or "Cry Baby").

Each of the many characters in this movie is so interesting, & putting them all together you get a John Waters Baltimore fun-fest. I was a fan of this movie as a teen (was introduced to me by my art-school brother) & I purchased this movie to share with my own teen daughter who enjoys film-study & all things quirky. Weird/fun “must-see” for any film study lover, John Waters fan, photography lover, &/or just for fun! The characters stick with you forever. I’ll frequently reference & fondly recall sugar addict “Little Chrissy”, thrift shop Mom “Joyce” whose mission in life is to spread fashion to homeless people for under a dollar, & “Full of Grace” Mary & “Memama” with her pit-beef stand, “Shelley” the Laundromat-obsessed girlfriend & of course the optimistic photographer Pecker, along with the rest of his family & Baltimore cast! So fun!

This has been one of my favorite movies since it’s release. I’m so happy I was able to find The digital copy here. It’s the epitome of camp! John Waters nails it with this. FULL OF GRACE!

Like all John Waters films, these are a matter of taste. These newer ones, Pecker and Cecil B. DeMented, are a bit toned down from the outrageous early films like Pink Flamingos and Female Trouble, but are a lot of fun nonetheless, and will not be as offensive to sensitive viewers as the early ones. Pecker (named as this because as a child, this character "pecked" at his food!) becomes a photographer of renown in Baltimore (the setting of all Waters films). The acting and production values are higher than in the early films, and there are still a great may hilarious scenes as well as cameoes by several of John Water's early "dreamlander" stars, the most prominent being Mink Stole.