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Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this biopic about controversial '60s radio host Petey Greene isn't for kids. Though Greene is often very funny, the film focuses on the sources of his comedy: his anger at oppressive systems of class and racism. Expect lots of sexual references and sexy outfits (a couple of scenes, while not explicit, also show some lively writhing). A fight (punching and falling) between rivals ends when Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination is announced; a brief sequence following shows street rioting (looting, flames, explosion). Language is super spicy and includes lots of uses of both "f--k" and the "N" word (spoken by African-American characters).
Families can talk about the accuracy of biopics. Do you think movies based on true stories (particularly one person's life) generally stick to the facts? Why would filmmakers change details? How could you find out what really happened and what might have been exaggerated? Families can also discuss what Petey's commentary has in common with the later humor of comics like Richard Pryor and Dave Chappelle. What function does envelope-pushing "shock" comedy serve in society?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Cynthia Fuchs
Charismatic, controversial, and consistently defiant, Petey Greene (Don Cheadle) shook up Washington, D.C. in the 1960s. Hired to host a morning show at DC's WOL-AM, the ex-convict played music from the likes of James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone, and Sam Cooke. He also talked -- a lot. He talked about politics, sex, race, and popular culture. Called a "prophet of the streets," he described himself as "a ['N'-word] in America telling it like it is, telling the truth."
Based on Greene's life, Kasi Lemmons' smart, enthralling TALK TO ME shows that he was at once inspired and troubled, ambitious and self-destructive. At the start of the film, Petey presents himself to station manager Dewey Hughes (Chiwetel Ejiofor), as his next star DJ -- even though they meet in prison, where Petey is incarcerated alongside Dewey's brother Milo (Mike Epps).
After honing his "voice" in prison and (apparently) hustling his way out, Petey arrives at the radio station determined to prove himself. Though Dewey's boss (Martin Sheen) has doubts, Petey draws listeners, who appreciate his rowdy chatter and political verve: On his first day, he calls Motown founder Berry Gordy a "hustler and a pimp," a charge that worries Dewey but resonates with listeners, who see the "system" as favoring the wealthy and oppressing minorities. Petey soon unites the local community, especially on the occasion of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination, when he stays on the air all night calling for calm and conversation instead of rioting.
At the same time, Petey's personal life spins round and round. Though he's mostly loyal to his vivacious girlfriend Vernelle (a marvelous Taraji P. Henson), he indulges in alcohol and other drugs, and his excesses eventually take a physical toll. Though Dewey encourages him to greater and greater visibility -- a TV show (Petey Greene's Washington), a live comedy routine, and even an appearance on The Tonight Show -- Petey rejects going mainstream. Dewey tells him to "be yourself," but Petey sees constraints when he's asked to perform for audiences outside his community.
At last he has a profound, proto-Dave Chappelle-ian moment, seeing before him an expectant "room full of white folks" who want to see him make fun of his background. He makes a fateful decision that the film represents as a mixture of disappointment and resistance. It's a fittingly complicated scene, showcasing both Greene's and Cheadle's brilliance.
Fans might want to see the real Greene talk about "Hustlin' Backwards." For another movie about a controversial DJ, try Good Morning, Vietnam; and if you're interested in movies about the Civil Rights era, check out Panther, Ray, and Bobby. Last but not least, consider Lemmons' amazing first film, Eve's Bayou.
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Sexual ContentVernell repeatedly wears short, cleavage-enhancing outfits (she calls it "Foxy-ed up," as in the movie character Foxy Brown); she visits Petey in prison in the "booty line," removes her bra from beneath her shirt and hands it to Dewey in public, and engages in deep kissing in public places. Sexual language includes repeated uses of "d--k," "pimp," and other phrases ("What you got in your boxers?"). A naked man appears on the prison rooftop (not explicit, but plain enough). Vernell catches Petey having sex with another woman (naked buttocks visible) and gets very upset, revealing a sexual liaison with Petey's coworker (it takes place off-screen, but she flaunts it). |
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ViolenceA fight in the office includes punching; report of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination leads to riots in D.C. streets (fires, looting, car explosion). |
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LanguageFrequent and varied language, including "f--k" (at least 35 times, sometimes with "mother-"), "damn," "s--t" (25+), "ass," "b--ch," "hell," "p--sy," as well as repeated uses of the n-word (at least 25 times) and a string of anti-white slang ("honky," "ofay," "peckerwood," "cracker"). |
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Social BehaviorPetey is rude and crude, drinks and smokes to excess, and repeatedly resists authority (even claiming to have stolen silverware fro the White House); still, he embodies a moral code, speaking truth to power. |
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CommercialismReferences to and images of popular figures of the day, including Foxy Brown, Berry Gordy, James Brown, Michael Jackson, Sam Cooke, Bette Midler, Johnny Carson, "Mr. Tibbs" (from In the Heat of the Night), etc. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoFrequent cigarette smoking and drinking (in bar scenes and elsewhere); Petey appears staggering drunk at a concert he's meant to emcee (he vomits) and is also drunk for his appearance on The Tonight Show; allusions to drug abuse; Petey looks ill at the end, coughing harshly (apparently the result of his many years abusing drugs, liquor, and cigarettes). |
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