Joe Dirt * (2001, David Spade, Brittany Daniel, Dennis Miller, Adam Beach, Christopher Walken, Jamie Pressly) – Classic Movie Review 6171

Written by David Spade and Fred Wolf, and directed by Dennie Gordon in 2001, this is a dire, desperate, and laugh-free slapstick comedy from Happy Madison and Columbia. It is a chilly, fun-free zone.

A forlorn David Spade stars as a hapless caretaker called Joe Dirt, who sets out on a journey to find his long-lost parents, who left and abandoned him as a kid at the Grand Canyon.

It is desperately sad to see Christopher Walken (as Clem) and Fred Ward (as Joe’s dad) reduced to this level. Erik Per Sullivan (Dewey in TV’s Malcolm in the Middle) plays little Joe Dirt.

It is the esteemed veteran Kathleen Freeman’s last appearance, as Joe Dirt’s foster mother. She died the same year of lung cancer.

Also in the cast are Brittany Daniel, Dennis Miller, Adam Beach, Jamie Pressly, Kid Rock, Megan Taylor Harvey (as Joe’s Little Sister), Caroline Aaron (as Joe’s real Mom), Hamilton Camp, Tyler Mane, Gordon Michaels and Fred Wolf.

It is shot by John R Leonetti, produced by Adam Sandler and Robert Simonds, scored by Waddy Wachtel and designed by Alan Au.

As advertised, it comes ‘From the producing team that brought you DEUCE BIGALOW and BIG DADDY.’

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6171

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