Polyester is not Mr. Waters's ordinary movie. It's a very funny one, with a hip, stylized humor that extends beyond the usual limitations of his outlook.
80
NewsweekDavid Ansen
NewsweekDavid Ansen
A rancidly hilarious slice of Americana. [01 Jun 1981, p.91]
75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Jay Scott
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Jay Scott
Waters uses the tawdry in satirical celebration of itself - he's the red satin tassled plush pillow of filmmaking. [17 Sep 1981]
Polyester isn’t quite up to the low standards of Pink Flamingos, but it’s still a worthy effort by Waters.
63
Washington PostGary Arnold
Washington PostGary Arnold
The new film, a fitfully amusing and perfectly harmless spoof of the morbid and masochistic cliches that sustain the typical soap opera, represents a mellow, spruced-up turn toward the mainstream. [06 Jul 1981, p.C3]
60
Time Out
Time Out
Likely to be criticised for being less than murky Waters, even with its 'Odorama' card to scratch for olfactory pleasures/displeasures; but then it's clear from an opening helicopter shot that bad taste has found the budget to go middle of the road.
A fitfully amusing comedy of not so ordinary people.
50
TV Guide Magazine
TV Guide Magazine
The biting satire and absurd situations in Waters' movies always dwell self-consciously on how media images and stereotypes affect viewers' notions of reality. Polyester is much more cliche-ridden than his other films, however, and so is less successful as satire.