Female Trouble - John Waters

Seen for the first time in November 2012.

I cannot say that I was a fan of “Female Trouble.” It’s noticably weaker than both “Desperate Living,” and “Pink Flamingos.” I don’t think it’s a matter of the same schtick wearing thin upon retread. I think it’s a matter of too much Divine, who admittedly has the best performance, but from whom nonetheless the viewer could use a breather. There’s more of a traditional plot here than “Pink Flamingos,” but it still seems somehow more haphazard and made up as they went along. That was probably a strength in “Pink Flamingos,” which also had stronger set-ups for gross-out and revulsion, but is a weakness here.

I also think there is less joie de vivre in this film than in the films that preceeded and followed it. This is more just a matter of unadulterated bad-actors loudly chewing the scenery. The offensiveness of the other movies is hilarious, but also pointed and commenting. It’s campy, but it achieves the level of artistic. The offensiveness in “Female Trouble” on the other hand is just loud. I feel like anyone could do it. And truth be told, it doesn’t feel like it’s that far off from a lot of forgettable grindhouse of the era, just more self-conscious maybe. Grade C-.