Waters lost his magic

I just watched this film. I couldn't help but think the old Waters magic is gone. The film seems kind of forced and preachy. I kind of cringe every time the male lead says "I'm Cecil B. DeMented." That might've been really funny on the lips of Divine or David Lochary, but spoken by Stephen Dorff, it just seems silly.

While Waters does have some skill as a writer and director, I think it's important to recognize how much his old "ensemble" of actors contributed to the magic. People like Divine, Edith Massey, David Lochary, Cookie Mueller, and Mary Vivian Pearce were crucial to his films. Admittedly Mink Stole, one of the original members, and Mary Vivian Pearce still make small appearances in his films, but his writing is not good enough to carry the films when acted by mostly "professional" actors. The older films (at least through Polyester and somewhat through Hairspray) were magical because they were acted by a crazy group of old friends who were enjoying themselves. I could enjoy the movies because I could tell the players were having a good time. It wasn't just a job for them.

Hairspray was his first "mainstream" film, and it was still good because there was enough of the ensemble left to maintain that old humor. Divine and Mink Stole were great in it.

I haven't seen Pecker or A Dirty Shame yet, and I suppose they could change my mind.

"Extremism in the pursuit of moderation is no vice."