Kinky Boots Review by Clint Morris
Being the traditional Aussie bloke that we know he is, it’s rather surprising to see Joel Edgerton in Kinky Boots. But if the shoe fits, and he can get around comfortably, then the next step could be an exultant one. Looking
to extend his international persona beyond ‘Young Uncle
Owen’ from the last two Star Wars films, here, the
likeable Australian actor – best known for his role on TV’s Secret Life of Us – dives into the carrier of an
artless British man who's forced into running his recently departed
father’s shoe factory. It might take a few minutes to get
use to the fact Edgerton’s without beer in hand, dropping the
magical word or catching the eye of females, but before the first reel
change you’ll be truly immersed in the world of uneasy
‘Charlie’ and his footwear endeavour. This is a
two-hander in the truest sense of the word though. Chiwetel Ejiofor,
most recently seen playing the charming killer operative in Serenity,
takes half the load as a self-assured drag queen that crosses paths
with the straight-as-a-line shoe man. Upon getting to know the cordial
Lola/Simon, and getting a peek at the performers footwear, Charlie
realises there’s a potential for a line of good and sturdy boots
– ones that would satisfy the needs of dress-donners like his new
friend. Hence, Lola and Charlie team up to create a
“sexy” new line of footwear, and the business relationship
sends a ripple through both of their lives. The factory’s
co-workers are edgy having a drag queen around; Charlie’s
impertinent green-eyed fiancée doesn’t appreciate his
plight, and Charlie has to look within both himself and his new partner
in an effort to discover what’s worthwhile and what’s not. Here’s
a film that’s been done before – and you’ll guess the
outcome of each plot point a long time before that point is reached -
but you might not notice its parallel to the similarly-themed Calendar Girls or The Full Monty though, because the turns in it are as gold as ingots. Edgerton
proves himself a very versatile and convincing performer, but better is
Ejiofor, who absolutely shines as the drag queen with a heart of gold
and a voice that’ll give any 5.1 set-up a good workout. Together,
they flesh the fabric out to a surprisingly effective degree. Kinky Boots
is a heart-warming comedy with ‘sole’ that should catapult
Edgerton into the next – though hopefully not LucasFilm owned -
galaxy. 3.5 out of 5
Kinky Boots
Australian release: 2nd March, 2006.
Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Joel Edgerton, Sarah-Jane Potts, Nick Frost, Linda Bassett.
Director: Julian Jarrold
Website:
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