Kinky Boots (PG-13)
Mike:
Scott:
Scott: Tonight we are reviewing Kinky Boots
. A 'truth-inspired' tale about what happens when shoe makers go bad. Well, not bad-bad, but bad-sexy. This tale follows Charlie Price (Joel Edgerton) of Price Shoes as he struggles to keep the shoe business he inherited from his father afloat.
What did you think Mike?
Mike: The description of this movie on paper sounds very odd, but I liked this movie. It starts off a bit slow, but at times it is truly hilarious.
How about you?
Scott: I, too, liked this movie. I wasn't sure what to expect from the trailer. I'm glad it didn't turn into another Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
Mike: Didn't see that one.
Scott: You didn't miss anything. I reviewed it a long time ago.
Mike: This is another one of those quirky British comedies that catches people by surprise.
Scott: You mention British and I have to add that you CAN understand the characters for most of the movie. Sometimes, I have a hard time following British accents, but didn't have an issue with this movie.
Mike: In general it reminded me of The Full Monty and Calendar Girls, which were written by one of this film's writers.
One very witty line completely relies on the audience knowing British slang. It helps if you know what they call cigarettes.
Scott: Price is forced to find a niche market for his shoes, and the market he finds is not one where most people would think to look.
Mike: I kept thinking that Edgerton looked familiar. I'm amazed that neither of us picked up on this earlier. Do you know what important role he played?
Scott: Can't think of it Oh, but IMDB has it...
Mike: Dude, that is young Uncle Owen Lars in the new Star Wars trilogy. You can look it up. I did.
Scott: I saw it right before you said something; I just didn't want to steal your thunder.
Mike: It's a little embarrassing that two big Star Wars geeks couldn't place him. Natalie Portman would be disappointed in us!
Scott: For that and many other things, I'm sure.
Price meets Lola (Chiwetel Ejiofor) under questionable circumstances outside of a mixed gender club. There Charlie finds his niche - making women's shoes for men.
Ejiofor, for those who might wonder, can sing. He does a great job selling his role as a cross dresser in this flick.
Mike: Yes. The funny thing is for a guy I never heard of a year ago, we have done three recent reviews that mention him.
Can you name them? And no looking on IMDB, cheater.
Scott: Serenity.
Mike: Yes.
Scott: uh...
Mike: Inside Man. And now this movie.
Scott: Don't forget Four Brothers. He was the bad guy in that movie.
Mike: What did I say about not using IMDB. I know there is no way you remember that. That was one of our first reviews, wasn't it?
Scott: I had looked him up before our review, so I wasn't using IMDB THIS time, but had previously.
Mike: Either way, I think he does a great job in this film.
I don't think you ever would mistake him for a woman, but you certainly believe that he could be a drag queen.
Scott: I have to agree with you. Most of the cross dressers in the movie wouldn't be confused for women. I don't think that's the point though really.
Mike: I didn't say that was the point.
Scott: No, I didn't mean to say that you thought that was the point. My thought was that cross dressers don't care if you can tell they aren't women.
Mike: Oh. Alrighty then. That was my point too, then.
Scott: Do you think this will do for cross dressers what Brokeback Mountain did for homosexuals? Bring them out into the mainstream?
Mike: No, this is not Brokeback Boots.
I don't know if the "true story" this is based on really involved cross dressers, but it makes for an example of how inspiration can come from the most unexpected places.
Scott: Like I told you after the movie, Price may have met a cross dresser, but I think the circumstances differ from what the movie would have you believe.
Just my thought on that.
Mike: It does make for an amusing story, though.
Scott: Yes, it does.
The female lead in this movie, Lauren (Sarah-Jane Potts) was familiar to me and it took some time to remember from where. She had a small role in Keen Eddie, one of the best single season shows ever!
Mike: You just beat me to that. I wanted to give you a chance to crow about Keen Eddie.
Scott: I love that show! Loved I should say, since it is long gone.
Mike: Then let's also give a shout out to Sienna Miller and Mark Valley. Mark went to school with my brother-in-law Mike in upstate New York.
Scott: Mark being the star of Keen Eddie...
Mike: Okay, so maybe we will now get some more people to watch that show on DVD.
Scott: Please do, but I digress.
Mike: Yes, meanwhile back at our review...
I also want to mention Nick Frost who plays Don. He will also seem familiar, because he was in the very hilarious zombie spoof Shaun of the Dead.
Mike: Even my wife who hates horror movies laughed her head off during that movie. Nick is pretty funny in this movie as well.
Scott: This movie had some good lines and they were spread out over the whole cast. You have to pay attention or they will slide a funny one past you.
Mike: Like I said you have to give it a chance, because it starts off slow, but once it gets in gear you will find yourself laughing.
Scott: As far as the music, as I mentioned before, Ejiofor did an incredible job singing. It was one of the best elements of the movie.
Mike: Not my kind of music, but it was very well done.
A few plot points were predictable, but the movie had a touching side that lets you forgive some of the things you see coming a mile away.
Scott: You always get those points with 'truth-inspired' movies; otherwise they wouldn't make the movie.
So what do you rate it?
Mike: I give this 4 stars for comedy and 4 stars overall. I encourage people to get past the title or what they think the movie is about and go see it.
Scott: I give it a 3.5 overall and a 4 for comedy. This movie is for more mature audiences because it takes a little maturity to see the humor and emotion in the movie.
Mike: Not a family movie, but not vulgar either. Kids just wouldn't be interested or get the jokes.
I think this movie will probably play at the Westhampton, which is Richmond's art house theater, and then go on to do very well on DVD.
Scott: You are correct. Do I sense a chill in the air?
Mike: Very good.
Mike: One last thing. IMDB says if you like this movie we also recommend The Muppets Valentine Show from 1974. Do you want to try and explain that one to me?
Scott: What about Mr. 3000, which is also recommended?
Mike: I guess the Muppets are more progressive than I thought.
