Straight Talk

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Straight Talk

PG

1992

1h 31m

Romance

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

42%

Tomatometer

12 Reviews

59%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Leaving her rural life in Arkansas, Shirlee Kenyon moves to Chicago and seeks employment at a radio station. When a mix-up finds Shirlee sitting in as the host on a show for call-in advice, her common-sense wisdom wins over fans. Soon she's "Doctor Shirlee," an in-demand on-air personality, but, of course, she's lacking in the proper credentials, a fact that journalist Jack Russell already suspects. Will Shirlee be able to keep her new gig if the truth gets out?

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

01/01/2000

2/4

What's really wrong with Straight Talk is a failure of nerve. The screenplay is so painfully conventional that it's clear nobody involved with the movie wanted to push it into new ground or let it take chances.

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Rachel Wagner

Rachel's Reviews (YouTube)

08/25/2020

Cute little romcom with the always likable Dolly Parton

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Vanessa Letts

The Spectator

07/25/2018

Listening to all her callers didn't do the trick for me. I left the cinema feeling more depressed than ever.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

06/17/2015

2/4

...an agreeable yet hopelessly forgettable little romcom.

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Neil Cohen

Echo Magazine

07/29/2007

3/5

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

10/08/2005

3/5

Dolly Parton's immense likablity makes this very slight film an amiable watch.

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Melissa L

@Agent99 16h

I'm VERY surprised to see such low ratings! I loved this movie! I found (almost) better than 9-5! Of course, as a lifelong Chicagoan, I do love movies not only set in Chicago, but also filmed in Chicago. I love Dolly's laugh. It's a clean romantic comedy with a happy ending.

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Blobbo X

@Blobbo 19h

Miscast love story between James Woods and Dolly Parton with some cringy dialogue to match the cringy coupling. (Blobbo live around corner from filming, watch Dolly act, James Woods standing by me, blending with crowd. Neat experience! Movie not so much but fun to see 3300 blobk N Lincoln Ave, again, in Chicago.)(And the Dinkel's Bakery sign!)

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Chris O

@clowens 4d

They just don’t make movies like this anymore. It’s just such a feel good movie. Dolly is so special in this movie❤️

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Timothy K

@timklinemd 6d

Thoroughly enjoyable. You cannot not like Dolly Parton and James Woods is as good as always.

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Matt L

@Mattliptak Feb 4

Straight Talk is a warm, easygoing feel-good movie that leans on charm rather than complexity—and it works. Dolly Parton delivers a genuinely likable, grounded performance, proving she could carry a mainstream studio film without relying solely on persona. It’s also refreshing to see James Woods in one of his rare roles where he isn’t a villain or abrasive foil. The supporting cast adds real texture, with Jerry Orbach and Phillip Bosco providing seasoned stability, while early appearances from Teri Hatcher and a surprise turn by Michael Madsen round things out nicely. The soundtrack is an added bonus—solid, catchy songs that fit the tone and enhance the movie’s easygoing appeal. Overall, it’s a straightforward, optimistic early-’90s crowd-pleaser that still works as comforting entertainment.

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Julian S

@akajulianscott 03/27/2025

Forgettable flick, but Dolly and her tunes make it worth a watch.

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Barnet Kellman

Director

Dolly Parton

Shirlee Kenyon

James Woods

Jack Russell

Griffin Dunne

Alan Riegert

Michael Madsen

Steve

Deirdre O'Connell

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Synopsis

Leaving her rural life in Arkansas, Shirlee Kenyon moves to Chicago and seeks employment at a radio station. When a mix-up finds Shirlee sitting in as the host on a show for call-in advice, her common-sense wisdom wins over fans. Soon she's "Doctor Shirlee," an in-demand on-air personality, but, of course, she's lacking in the proper credentials, a fact that journalist Jack Russell already suspects. Will Shirlee be able to keep her new gig if the truth gets out?

Director: Barnet Kellman
Producer: Robert Chartoff, Fred Berner
Screenwriter: Craig Bolotin, Patricia Resnick
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Hollywood Pictures, Touchwood Pacific Partners 1, Sandollar Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 3, 1992, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $20.1M
Runtime: 1h 31m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround, Stereo

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