No-one does a good feel-good flick like the Brits. This film is all about feeling good about oneself. It is not an out and out comedy, you won't be roaring with laughter but there are some amusing and touching moments.
The film is actually loosely based on a real Northampton shoe factory. In the film, Price's Shoemakers have been making quality men's shoes for generations. The last generation Charlie (Joel Edgerton) doesn't really fit in with the mould and moves down to London with his fiancée to work in Marketing. However, upon the death of his father returns to the business that has been left to him. Muddling on for a bit, he discovers a major order had been cancelled and the company was on the brink of collapse. It is on an unsuccessful business trip to London that Charlie first stumbles across Lola, a drag queen (Chiwetel Ejiofor), with a broken boot. Back in Northampton he is forced to make staff redundant but feisty factory girl Lauren (Sarah Jane Potts) fights back and asks what Charlie is trying to do about it. This sets Charlie thinking and finally the penny drops (the audience had worked it out about fifteen minutes earlier) and he persuades Lauren to come down to London with him to meet Lola.
Obviously the path of fabulous shoe making does not run smoothly. Lola has a few teething problems with some of the staff at the factory. This is done sensitively and with humour, there are no cheap gags. The film is basically about knowing who you are, and being comfortable with that. It is not just Charlie and Lola who has to work this out. Director Julian Jarrold, whose background until now has been in TV direction, makes this a simple, easy to watch film that is not over-long or complicated. You don't have to try hard to make a good film and the story (inspired by a TV documentary) tells itself. Yes, it is a tad predictable in places but I found I didn't really mind. You don't watch this film if you are looking to be challenged or intellectually stimulated!
Chiwetel Ejiofor's performance as Lola is full of charisma and enthusiasm. I gather his performance was appreciated by the transvestite community as being sensitive and accurate, rather than a parody. He has a good singing voice and is a talented performer. If the acting didn't work out… He is ably supported by a cast of actors that are 'normal', and although some are recognizable for past TV roles, generally they play regular people with no pretensions, which is exactly the appeal of the film. Potentially the film could have stereotyped 'Northern' (Lola's description, before anyone wants to pick me up on my geography!) factory workers as well as drag queens, but seems to narrowly avoid all the pitfalls to make this a very watchable film. I would definitely recommend it; this is no ground-breaking cinematic masterpiece but perfect if you are looking for an amusing, entertaining film with its feet on the ground.
DVD EXTRAS
There is a 15 minute featurette entitled 'The Real Kinky Boot Factory' about the documentary that inspired the makers to turn the story into a film, and the training the actors had in order to be able to operate the machinery. There are also four deleted scenes, which are OK, certainly I have seen worse. They are even finished properly with background music also, unlike some I've seen which are just rough cuts. There is a short montage to music entitled 'Journey of a Brogue' showing pictorially how a shoe is made. Audio Commentary is also available.
The film is a certificate 12, there is limited bad language.
Running time is 104 minutes.
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