This fuzzy, feel-good message movie tells the tale of Charlie Price (Joel Edgerton), a strait-laced, uptight fellow from the English village of Northampton, who inherits his father's shoe factory. He doesn't really want to make shoes, but feels obligated to continue his late and beloved father's legacy. The business starts to founder, and Charlie feels helpless to save it, until he meets Lola, a drag queen (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who inspires him to save the company by venturing into the niche market of boots made specifically for male cross dressers.
The film claims to be inspired by a true story (what film doesn't, these days?) and given its premise, it would have to be. There are some minor conflicts, but nothing gets too serious, and the happy ending, which you can call from a mile away, of course features Ejiofor and his troop of drag queen friends belting out showy songs set to disco beats. The movie is only half-baked, lots of details are left somewhat vague, everyone seems to be only going through the emotions to a certain extent, and Ejiofor makes one of the scariest women I've ever seen. But the film's message about being true to yourself and accepting others for what they are can never, in my opinion, be told enough, and though it's flimsy and lightweight, the movie is also entertaining and harmless enough.
Grade: B-
The film claims to be inspired by a true story (what film doesn't, these days?) and given its premise, it would have to be. There are some minor conflicts, but nothing gets too serious, and the happy ending, which you can call from a mile away, of course features Ejiofor and his troop of drag queen friends belting out showy songs set to disco beats. The movie is only half-baked, lots of details are left somewhat vague, everyone seems to be only going through the emotions to a certain extent, and Ejiofor makes one of the scariest women I've ever seen. But the film's message about being true to yourself and accepting others for what they are can never, in my opinion, be told enough, and though it's flimsy and lightweight, the movie is also entertaining and harmless enough.
Grade: B-