Through shows like "The Jerry Springer Show" white trash have become even more than a laughing stock than usual, and David Spade goes right at the topic, donning a huge mullet wig and white trash facial hair.

Joe Dirt tells the story of an ugly young guy who was abandoned at the Grand Canyon when he was little, and who has spent the rest of his life going from meager job to meager job looking for his parents. Along the way he meets a beautiful young woman, a retired gangster, and a guy named Buffalo Bob who resembles something seen in The Silence of the Lambs.

The comedy in Joe Dirt ranges from original to spoof to downright repetitive, but overall it works out pretty well. Spade is a funny guy and he seems right at home with that mullet atop his head. He unleashes some good lines at good times, but also pulls of some entertaining cheesiness that Joe Dirt really relies on. Obviously, if you don't mind purposely cheesy movies, you should like this movie.

Like many movies that I have seen recently, Joe Dirt is pretty good in the first half and not so good in the second. It never becomes awful, but it is obvious that Joe Dirt runs out of things to say about two thirds through. It is pretty dumb by the time you get into the last twenty minutes.

I really liked Dennis Miller in the movie.

Joe Dirt is a mildly entertaining film with some good gags here and there and a decent performance by David Spade.

Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.