Kinky Boots (UK)

Kinky Boots is about shoes and a reverence for footwear of all types. Though it doesn't reach Sex and the City heights of shoe obsession, it's a heartwarming story about how important fashion is in helping feminine people express themselves, presented in a very humorous manner. The film could have been a depressing forced march  on global trade but the director makes this film quirky, cheeky and imminently watchable.

Charlie Price is a young man, who has inherited his father's sinking shoe company. He wants to save the company from falling completely apart. He starts firing people and one of his employees, a lovely lady Lauren, gives him apiece of her mind to look for new ideas rather than just firing people. He travels to London for some ideas and has a chance encounter with a sassy drag queen performer Lola, whom he saved from getting harassed by drunken hoodlums. Lola complains that women's shoes don't stand up to the weight of a full-sized man in drag. Charlie thinks maybe his factory could supply a proper pair of boots with stiletto heels for Lola and the likes of her. Lola comes to the small town to help Charlie design the perfect shoe but expectedly receives cold reception from most factory workers, especially gay-hating Don. Meanwhile, Charlie's fiancé is working with a real estate agent to sell the factory. Charlie wants one last chance and with the styling eye of Lola, Charlie leads the traditional factory to design and produce shoes for the catwalk in Milan, Italy. A surprise is in store in Milan when Lola doesn't show up and it is now unto Charlie to save his company and showcase their perfect kinky boots for male transvestites.

The movie is in the naughty-but-nice British tradition in which characters walk on the wild side but never seem to do anything else there. We have character's like Charlie who wanna ave their family tradition, Lola who wants nothing but love and respect from everyone. Having been the lifelong target of contempt and rejection, she has also developed compassion for those frightened, benighted fools. Awesome acting by everyone in the movie including cameos by all factory workers makes this film a delightful watch. Kudos to Lola for portraying the role with such confidence and respect. And also thanks to the director to make this film and choosing a heavy subject but giving it a very light heart comic treatment to make it easy to watch.

This film is funny and is very strongly recommended. (7/10)