Joe Dirt (2001)

11% of critics liked it
(75 reviews)
63% of users liked it
(304,277 ratings)

As the title character of Joe Dirt, David Spade plays a "white trash" janitor at an L.A. radio station, whose mullet hairdo is just one of many personal oddities that make him the object of much ridicule. And the sanitation gig is just the most recent of Joe's many incarnations during a tumultuous… More As the title character of Joe Dirt, David Spade plays a "white trash" janitor at an L.A. radio station, whose mullet hairdo is just one of many personal oddities that make him the object of much ridicule. And the sanitation gig is just the most recent of Joe's many incarnations during a tumultuous life, which got off on the wrong foot when Joe was abandoned at the Grand Canyon by his parents as a young child. After stumbling into the on-air studio, Joe steadily recounts the sad and comical story of how he cared for himself and journeyed around the country trying to relocate his family, all while being prodded, teased, and eventually embraced by a sarcastic deejay (Dennis Miller) and a rapt listening audience. His travels involve stints selling fireworks, wrangling alligators, riding aloft in a car dealership display balloon, and being held captive by a Silence of the Lambs-style serial killer. Despite numerous setbacks and bruising physical injuries, Joe emerges from each episode with his spirit intact as he searches optimistically for his roots, and eventually for the chance to return to the one place he was accepted -- a rural farm where the girl of his dreams (Brittany Daniel) awaits. The directorial debut of Dennie Gordon, Joe Dirt was produced by Adam Sandler's production company, Happy Madison, and features musician Kid Rock, also debuting, in the supporting role of Joe's rival. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: Dennie Gordon
Written By: David Spade, Fred Wolf
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 11, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Aug 28, 2001
Studio: Columbia Pictures

Critic Reviews

Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader
Contrived yet unpretentious, predictable yet surprising, this underdog comedy and its title character have considerable charm.
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
A comic named David Spade stars in a movie called Joe Dirt, and that's about as funny as things get here.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
In one scene, raw sewage is dumped on Joe. See Joe Dirt and you'll know how that feels.
Mike Clark, USA Today
Were nature to take the course they both seem to want, the movie could end in 15 minutes. And it would still be too long.
Cody Clark, Mr. Showbiz
To see it is to sit through scene after scene like the one in which a hulking oil rigger spattered with crude takes a leak on some smoldering ashes for no reason at all.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
[Miller's] reduced to the guy in the backseat spouting off obscure nerdisms when everyone else just wants to talk dirty and get stupid.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...none of it is funny.
Joe Mader, Palo Alto Weekly
Nothing written here will stop this film from being a huge hit, but don't say you weren't warned.
Marrit Ingman, Austin Chronicle
Sally forth, gentle viewer, and enjoy yourself. En route, you will experience a steady supply of doo-doo jokes, dispensed in seven-minute intervals by the Script-O-Tron 3000TM.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
With its quirky characters, silly sight gags, and the tasteless humor that has become a staple among teen comedies of late, this film will not fail to amuse its market.
Michael Dequina, Film Threat
The juvenile humor, however, is not so much a miscalculation as simple overkill.
Kevin N. Laforest, Montreal Film Journal
Joe is often ridiculous and rather dumb, but there's a sweetness to him.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
like watching a talentless stand-up struggling through Open Mike Night, inspiring catcalls instead of laughs and bringing on lethargy instead of levity.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
It's not likely to be remembered come Oscar time...but if you find yourself laughing at your own flatulence from time to time, you might find some solid giggles.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
While Spade did succeed in winning my sympathy, it wasn't worth sitting through all those bad jokes and weak comedy sketches to get to that point.
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
Check the pedigree of this film first and you may want to proceed no further.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Brad W

This was too dumb for words. David Spade was perfect for this, seeing as its not much to work with. The plot is interesting in an idiotic way. The movie was overall bad, with a few funny moments.
Spencer S

Funny in a SNL, Spade way, but not a "masterpiece."
KJ P

It was very laughable the first time around, but after that the jokes start becoming failures, and the movie plummets!
Conner R

Aside from a few shining moments from David Spade, this is a pretty weak comedy. The story is just overly corny and predictable and the visual style is mediocre and unmemorable. Without it's abundance of celebrity cameos, it would be nothing at all.
Curtis L

Never seen it all the way through, but I liked what I saw.
Cindy I

Funnier than it should have been. Growing up in Texas, I know dozens of guys just like this.
Tim B

So bad it hurts my heart.
Jason S

Was it supposed to be funny?
Leigh R

I thought it was funny but not that interesting besides that.
Bradley W

This was too dumb for words. David Spade was perfect for this, seeing as its not much to work with. The plot is interesting in an idiotic way. The movie was overall bad, with a few funny moments.
Mike T

David Spade is NOT funny, so putting the weight of a "comedy" on his shoulders is probably not a good idea. This one is completely incoherent and moronic, filled with poopy jokes and David Spade-brand "humor".
Marion R

A guilty pleasure, I just find it really funny.
Erin C

Omg my brother watched this movie OVER and OVER for like a month straight. It had its funny parts for sure, but it definitely got annoying after awhile.
Ira Z

Entertaining, to say the very least.
Sarah P

A pretty unneccesary movie.
Andrew P

I sat down to watch this with my friends not knowing a thing about it, i think the first laugh came at the portable peice of frozen poo, from then the laughs kept coming and never stoped - that was written 4 years ago. Upon a repeat viewing I became bored easily and just didnt care… More
I sat down to watch this with my friends not knowing a thing about it, i think the first laugh came at the portable peice of frozen poo, from then the laughs kept coming and never stoped - that was written 4 years ago. Upon a repeat viewing I became bored easily and just didnt care anymore. Showing just how much I have aged
Leo L

Funny!
Sean S

I guess this movie is supposed to be funny. I just found it to be tragic. There are a couple of laughs but not many. Watch Rikki Lake instead.
Miriam K

Be very, very angry!!!
Lee K

i gave this a shot but i hate david spade he irritates me to no end. and found out why after i had seen this stupid movie