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Joe Dirt
Columbia Pictures


8.6

based on 26 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 97 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

FILM:

MPAA RATING: PG-13 for crude and sex-related humor, and for language

Starring David Spade, Christopher Walken, Dennis Miller, Joe Don Baker, Brittany Daniel, and Kid Rock

The year is 1975 and little Joe Dirt is dumpster diving at a Grand Canyon tourist stop. After gorging himself on half-eaten snacks, he emerges from the garbage bin, only to find that his parents have left him. Now grown up and working as a janitor, Joe's got a mullet hairdo, acid-washed jeans, and a dream -- to find the parents that he lost, or lost him. (Columbia Tristar)

GENRE(S):	Comedy
WRITTEN BY:	David Spade Fred Wolf
DIRECTED BY:	Dennie Gordon
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: August 28, 2001 Video: August 28, 2001 Theatrical: April 11, 2001
RUNNING TIME:	93 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman

Spade, who almost invariably plays smug or smarmy characters, proves he really can act.

New York Post Lou Lumenick

Little more than a series of sketches, tied together by Joe's on-air interrogation by a nasty shock jock played by Dennis Miller.

Chicago Reader Lisa Alspector

This underdog comedy and its title character have considerable charm.

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

Ends up blowing its own joke. Instead of making Joe blissfully arrogant in his Southern rock dude myopia, it turns him into a shuffling masochistic loser.

Los Angeles Times Jan Stuart

If you are in touch with your inner 14-year-old child, you could do worse.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

This sentimental comedy is generally sweet natured.

Mr. Showbiz Cody Clark

A full-throated shout-out to the lowest common denominator.

Film.com Robert Horton

It's only when you see the movie that you discover how completely the film misses opportunities to develop these ideas into anything like movie comedy.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

Joe Dirt is so obviously a construction that it is impossible to find anything human about him; he is a concept, not a person.

Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea

Just a big chunk of waste flushed from a Hollywood studio.

LA Weekly Chuck Wilson

Rich with comic potential that goes unfulfilled, time after stupefying time.

Salon.com Andrew O'Hehir

What makes it so disappointing is that the movie is just another sub-Farrelly-brothers collection of miscellaneous gags.

Chicago Tribune Robert K. Elder

For all its promise of lively trailer-park humor, Joe Dirt digs, then lies in its own grave, killed by blah characters, lame jokes and cliches you can see coming a mile away.

Boston Globe Joanna Weiss

We have to endure 93 minutes of this torture, with only a few high points.

USA Today Mike Clark

Structured loosely enough to work in all the excrement and incest jokes necessary to seem hip these days.

San Francisco Chronicle Edward Guthmann

Knows its audience and doesn't stint on the flatulence jokes, poop jokes, leg-humping dogs and moments of homo-panic.

The New York Times A.O. Scott

Relentlessly softheaded and softhearted.

Baltimore Sun Athima Chansanchai

Even with help from a pathetic Kid Rock and a boost from always-on Christopher Walken, Spade can't pull this off.

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

In one scene, raw sewage is dumped on Joe. See Joe Dirt and you'll know how that feels.

Washington Post Desson Thomson

All failed concept and misfired comedy.

Washington Post Rita Kempley

We should be asking ourselves why so noble a nation would produce swill like Joe Dirt.

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

Redefines the notion of a feature film another notch downward.

Variety Todd McCarthy

Takes a prominent place along with "Tomcats," "Say It Isn't So," "Saving Silverman" and "Get Over It" on the list of reasons why raucous teen farce is headed six feet under.

Austin Chronicle Marrit Ingman

There's an oddball quality to the ensemble that might even be lovable if the movie weren't so glib and perfunctory.

New Times (L.A.) Robert Wilonsky

Sandler and Spade continue their avid quest to dumb down America.

New York Daily News Jami Bernard

Talk about waste products; think of the time, effort and money that went into this movie.

The average user rating for this movie is 8.6 (out of 10) based on 97 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jessica W. gave it a10:
I think these guys said it all, rolling laughter comes out in every scene. I don*t agree with the very few women like these movies, probably because I*m a woman!

Harry gave it a10:
I love this movie, david spade actually turned out a great movie without Chris Farley by his side * rest in peace *.

Ben gave it an8:
I loved Joe Dirt, amongst its really cheasy acting are real messages...thats the real beaty, amazing, fun, and silly. Truly a feel good movie that begs to be seen by the family.

Rob B gave it a9:
The critics need to pull their heads from their bums. Spade and Sandler are not trying to dumb down anyone they are making movies that make people laugh. This movie is escapist. You see it to laugh and have a good time. Enjoy watching a down and out nice guy getting dumped on. I love this movie because it is simple and funny. If one wants to watch socially relevant "FILMS" why would they see a movie titled Joe Dirt? This is a great comedy.

Eric C gave it a10:
The critics are idiots that was the best movie in the world!

Rod G. gave it an8:
26 reviews for a score of 20. This movie is funny. It seems that the critics once again prove they are out of touch with the common man. Either that or they are all someone's ex-girlfriend. I've met very few women that like these kinds of movies. It must be a guy thing.

Jackson G. gave it an8:
This is a comedy... you don't need to be able to identify with someone if you're laughing at them (actually, it's better off if you don't identify with them). So, Ebert, you're a dumbass. My brother and I have been left quoting this movie 5 years later... and people still know what we're referring to. That shows this movie's true genius: One liners w/ a real punch.

Joe Dirt Columbia Pictures

Joe Dirt
Columbia Pictures