Review: Despite Queer Cliches, 'Kinky Boots' Still Funny and Poignant

It's hard to think of "Kinky Boots" without hearing the Cyndi Lauper song "The Sex is in the Heel" – that is, for anyone who has seen the Tony-winning Harvey Fierstein/Lauper stage extravaganza. Some (non-gay) folks might not realize that musical was adapted from a 2005 independent film directed by Julian Jarrold ("Brideshead Revisited" remake) and written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth.

The film is based on real events that happened to a struggling Northamptonshire shoe manufacturer in the late '90s, when good quality shoes were no longer vogue and a dramatic change needed to happen to keep the factory open.

The film centers on Charlie (Joel Edgerton), a cute, prudish guy who gets roped into taking over the family business when his father dies and forms an unlikely partnership with Lola (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a dynamic and proud drag queen, after a chance meeting on the streets of London. Charlie comes up with a plan to make custom high-heeled boots specifically for men... who do drag, that is... and elicits the help of an employee, Lauren (a delightful Sarah-Jane Potts). There's also a negligible plot involving Charlie and his awful girlfriend.

The movie is oftentimes funny and poignant, but does fall into the trappings of so many early indie queer-themed films, where the queer character isn't allowed a love story or even a real sexual orientation – none that is overtly discussed, anyway. In addition, the film tends to conflate transvestism with drag (and even with trans).

If the film really wanted to be daring, the true love story would have been between Charlie and Lola. (Ditto for Fierstein's pandering Broadway musical book, btw). That would be a remake I would get excited about. But, alas, here Charlie is allowed his straight crush and Lola gets to steal the film.

It's a hoot watching future Oscar-nominee Ejiofor ("12 Years a Slave") spectacularly lighting up the screen as Lola. Ejiofor singing "Whatever Lola Wants" is a rousing highlight. The actor manages the character nuances magnificently. He received a deserved Golden Globe nomination for his performance.

Edgerton is also quite good, but never really allowed to fly his own freak flag (and we get the sense that he wants to). He is hilarious in the Milan runway sequence.

The rest of the cast are the expected Brit stereotypes from films like this. (See "The Full Monty" as a prime example.)

Paramount Home Entertainment has done a swell job with the video transfer. The images are clear, with the dazzling colors highlighted, especially Lola's signature red. The soundtrack is fab.

All the extras are carryovers from the DVD release and include deleted scenes, an interesting doc, "The Real Kinky Boots Factory," and a terrific audio commentary by the director and three stars.

Slightly dated, "Kinky Boots" is still worth watching for its two lead performances and to enjoy a hopeful story about different people connecting and working together towards a common goal.

Bonus Materials: