John Waters greatest strength has been his ability to put bizarre characters and circumstances in fantasy worlds where they can believably exist while still reflecting back a twisted mirror image of ourselves. Unfortunately, he mostly fails to do this in DeMented. Maybe it's because Cecil's crew of misfits contains so many over-the-top deviant stereotypes that it just becomes monotonous. Maybe it's because Honey Whitlock only actually has character for the first 10 minutes of the film before becoming yet another insipid follower of Cecil. Or it could be simply because Waters' normally excellent use of music is never quite able to generate any coherent mood.
Still, this is a Waters film, and that means that at times it will be weird, wonderful, and hilarious. One gag may be shoved in your face as blatantly as possible while the next one will be in the details which you will miss completely if not paying close attention. Cecil B. is almost certainly an alter ego for John Waters, but one which is seen with a healthy dose of humorous self-abasement. John Waters, like Cecil B., is a true auteur who makes films the way he wants to. This one is definitely worth seeing for any John Waters fan, but will probably be little more than a novelty for everyone else.
Still, this is a Waters film, and that means that at times it will be weird, wonderful, and hilarious. One gag may be shoved in your face as blatantly as possible while the next one will be in the details which you will miss completely if not paying close attention. Cecil B. is almost certainly an alter ego for John Waters, but one which is seen with a healthy dose of humorous self-abasement. John Waters, like Cecil B., is a true auteur who makes films the way he wants to. This one is definitely worth seeing for any John Waters fan, but will probably be little more than a novelty for everyone else.