Kinky Boots
If you want to know where I came from. Where I was bred (not born, I’m a dirty Northerner in that sense ((Burnley.))) Anyway, I digress. I come and currently reside in a small Midland town that is part of a bigger town called Northampton. Never heard of it? Well, Northampton is pretty much only famed for three things; Matt Smith (Doctor Who,) Rugby (Northampton Saints) and shoes. So much so that our football team is nicked named “the cobblers.” Again, I digress; it’s come as no surprise that there are so few movies based here. Just as equally he most famous one is actually about shoes, Kinky Boots to be more precise.
Based on a true story, Kinky Boots revolves around a family show business named Prince. Charlie is the haphazard son of the factory owner. However, whenever he dies, Charlie is thrust into the managerial role whilst the declining shoe economy puts the whole factory in danger of closure. When a fired employee tells Charlie he needs to find a niche market. On a trip to London, he runs across Lola, a drag queen who finds it impossible to walk on female heels. Soon the pair strike up an idea that will change the shape of Prince’s and indeed their product.
Why is it Bad?
Is this Kinky Boots? Or is this Love Actually? Or maybe its Run Fat Boy Run or Calender Girls or every comedy drama movie from Britain in the past twenty years. Christ, it even Nick Frost is in it. The film smatters of that familiarity that we are used to and follows the formula right down to a tee. Sometimes that cookie cutter reliance of sentimentality and happy endings sugar coats some of the deeper issues of LGBT rights. While yes, a film called Kinky Boots probably needs to focus a little bit more on the footwear; there is a somewhat skirmish over the more serious parts. Again, it adds to the blandness of it.
Why is it Good?
Chiwetel Ejiofor and Joel Egerton simply make the film. The former places the tongue snappy, songstress Lola and her alter ego Simon perfectly. In fact, not only does he sparkle and entertain but he is the only one who manages to level the issues at hand. He is endearing as a big time show girl dealing with small time ignorance. And yes, I still stand by my previous statement that the movie doesn’t quite deal with it enough because the now Oscar nominated Ejiofor is able to pull it off. Playing opposite Joel Egerton makes Joel Egerton stellar. The Australian nails the Northampton accent as well as layering Charlie with enough drama to make him interesting alongside Lola.
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