Blow Dry

Seeing that this is a film about high-end barbering, isn't it odd that Josh Hartnett's fringe looks as if it were cut by his eight year old niece? Anyway, the gist of this light-hearted comedy is set around a northern English town hosting the National Hairdressing Championships. It's got a strong cast of British stalwarts - Warren Clarke, Natasha Richardson and Alan Rickman all chipping in to keep the rivalries, love interests and coiffure-quips flowing relentlessly. It's one of those films that is as notable for the stereotypes it challenges - of both the cutting trade and of the attitudes of the folks in working class England - as it is for any of the on screen performances, and that helps keep the joke running fine. No, the writing won't be up for a Booker prize, nor will the acting trouble a BAFTA jury ever, but the film has a certain spirit and the characters are not afraid to poke fun at themselves, award ceremonies in general and even the normally dreadfully wooden Bill Nighy manages to support the somewhat under-used visiting Hollywood star who did genuinely seem to be enjoying the whole charade. It's not a bad effort, this - and keep an eye out for Heidi Klum, too!