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Cry Baby

6.1

8,591

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Original title

Cry Baby

Year

1990

Running time

89 min.

Country

United States

Director

John Waters

Screenwriter

John Waters

Cast

Music

Patrick Williams

Cinematography

David Insley

Producer

Universal Pictures

Genre

Comedy. Musical | Black Comedy. 1950s. Teen/coming-of-age. Independent Film (US)

Synopsis

Cult director John Waters goes mainstream -- sort of -- in this send-up of 1950s teen melodramas. Heart-throb Johnny Depp stars in the title role as a glamorous delinquent who heads a gang of hoods known as the Drapes. Trouble starts when Cry-Baby falls for a squeaky clean blonde from a rival group, the Squares. Their star-crossed romance sets off a rumble between the warring factions and Cry-Baby ends up doing time in reform school. Chock-full of rock & roll and Waters' usual cavalcade of eccentric celebrities, including Patty Hearst, Iggy Pop and former porn star Traci Lords.

Critics' reviews

"For a while the actors seem intimidated by the '50s references, but the film eventually develops a musical energy that carries the day."

Gene Siskel: Chicago Tribune
"The mirror Waters holds up to the world is distorted, turning everyone into a grotesque. But we can still see ourselves in it And laugh"

Peter Travers: Rolling Stone
"A film that wants only to be loved (...)The eagerness of the performers, their flat-out verve and innocence, wins you over"

Peter Rainer: Los Angeles Times
"Waters' mischievous satire of the teen exploitation genre is entertaining as a rude joyride through another era"

Variety Staff: Variety
"There are some funny moments, but this may be the first time the director’s scabrous, anarchic wit seems vaguely depressed"

Owen Gleiberman: Entertainment Weekly

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Ranking Lists Position

97 My Favorite Musicals (31)

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Cry Baby

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