Brought to us by the same production team responsible for Calendar Girls, Kinky Boots is also based on a true story. Director Julian Jarrold, better known for his direction of television series (Silent Witness, 1996) and period pieces (Crime and Punishment, 2002; Great Expectations, 1999) enters centre stage in British filmmaking with this romantic-comedy drama. The film opens with the picture of a young black child trying on a pair of red high-heel shoes and dancing along a wind-swept isolated pier. The dancing is stopped abruptly by a knock on a window and an old black man shouting at the kid to stop, saying 'you stupid boy'. Gag number one! We then witness a speech to a group of workers on Price's shoe factory floor, and learn that the proprietor's son Charlie Price (Joel Edgerton) is moving to London to pursue a career in marketing. No sooner has Charlie arrived London than he finds out that his father has two brogue-clad feet firmly in the grave. Charlie returns to the North of England, finds out that the shoe business is in trouble, and lays off all of the workers – not before the ultimate redundant, feisty Northern lass Lauren (Sarah-Jane Potts), gives him a lesson in positive thinking straight out of the seven commandments for effective people. Charlie gets drunk in London, helps rescue black drag queen Lola (Chiwetel Ejiofor) gets inspiration on how to save the shoe business, and returns to Northampton a rejuvenated man.

The rest of the film is a lesson in human relationships, anti-prejudice, political correctness, teamwork, the meaning of masculinity, and being true to oneself. The plot is also highly predictable. We know the shoe factory is going to be saved, and that Lauren is going to get her man. I hear you ask, 'Why bother?' The answer is pure unadulterated fun. Edgerton plays the disillusioned college graduate fed up with small town grey claustrophobia to great effect. He also displays a stuttering, bumbling Hugh Grantish innocence, torn between adolescence and manhood, a man that power-feminists (represented by his girlfriend Nicola) would tear apart limb from limb. Joel is the catalyst for catharsis in the film, bringing out the real man in Charlie, challenging the caveman mentality in arm-wrestler Don, and bringing some metro-sexuality to Northampton. It turns out that Lola is his/her true self, not the shy passive underwhelming alter-ego that is Simon. This is complemented by an arresting performance from Chiwetel Ejiofor, also excellent in 2002's Dirty Pretty Things. Lola's towering frame fits superbly into tight cabaret skirts, bras, corsets and of course red boots, forcing Don and co. to question their sexuality and masculinity. One of the standout moments is when Lola's elderly landlady brings a cup of tea into the rented bedroom adorned with gaudy religious knick-knacks and says abruptly 'You are a man, aren't you?'

This film could be described as The Crying Game's comedic cousin, albeit one devoid of suspense. The factory scenes involving working class gossiping machinists, versed in sexual innuendo is straight out of Mike Baldwin's clothes factory in Coronation Street. There are also nods to The Full Monty, especially the way sexual expression is seen as a remedy for the ills depressed Northern towns, worker exploitation, poverty and alienation. One drawback is that these issues are not addressed adequately in this shallow but enjoyable film. There are also nods to Pedro Almodóvar films (especially the transvestite cabaret scenes), Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and even The Wizard of Oz. At one point Lola taps her red shoes together and goes home to her true self. The seediness and camp of low level cabaret is captured perfectly, with hilarious butchering of classic songs by Lola, including 'Yes Sir, I Can Boogie' and 'These Boots are Made for Walking'. I must add that Lola does a better job than Jessica Simpson's current chart single. The music fits in well with the current trend for karaoke style music a là Robbie Williams and Scissor Sisters. In the latter's inspired words 'Gonna take your mother out all night and show her what it's all about' Kinky Boots will have gangs of women dancing down theatre aisles from next Friday. Lola has a phrase for those afraid to join in with the fun-loving huddled masses: 'There's a little chill in the air... isn't there?'

Rated 12A (see IFCO website for details)
Kinky Boots is released on 11th Nov 2005.
Kinky Boots – Official website