Posted: 03/10/2001

Blow Dry

(2001)

by Wayne Case

Tepid UK comedy bolstered by strong cast.

Opened rather quietly by Miramax in several major keys including Los Angeles and New York on 3/7/2001, this one is inconsequential, formulaic, contrived and totally predictable. Unless you are obsessed with one or more members of the cast, and I can understand that, there isn’t any good reason to buy a ticket.

Set in the Yorkshire burg of Keighley, the story of a broken family is played out against a background of the annual British hairdressing championships.

Speaking of the cast, it’s not really their fault. Natasha Richardson is as effective as the material will allow, but Alan Rickman is dull in a dull role. Rachael Leigh Cook is attractive as a token American, but this will do nothing for her career; Josh Hartnett completely convinces as a Brit, although I can’t even guess how he ended up in this type film. Rachael Griffiths is woefully miscast.

Each of these cast members has been better in the past and is likely to be far better in the future. I especially liked Natasha Richardson in The Parent Trap (1998). Alan Rickman was outstanding in Die Hard (1988) and he appears next in the upcoming Harry Potter film. Rachael Leigh Cook is probably best known for television’s Dawson’s Creek, and the advance buzz on her next film, Josie And The Pussycats, is very positive. Australian actress/Oscar nominee Rachel Griffiths was great in Muriel’s Wedding (1994) and Hilary & Jackie (1998). Look for her soon in Blow; I see an Oscar sometime in her future. I first noticed Josh Hartnett in The Faculty (1998) and liked him instantly. I expect his breakout film is that blockbuster-in-the-wings, Pearl Harbor, plus he has three other films scheduled for 2001 release!

Blow Dry is likely to remind you of writer Simon Beaufoy’s successful previous project, The Full Monty. That’s no accident, but seeing this is likely to make you wish you’d just rented a tape of that instead. This film’s script is based on a play written by the same Mr. Beaufoy and called Never Better. Staying away from that title for the film was a wise decision. The original musical scoring is blamed on Patrick Doyle. Considering that Mr. Doyle has many excellent earlier credits on his resume, let’s just assume that his heart wasn’t in this assignment.

Blow Dry runs a blessedly short 91 minutes and is rated a soft R.

Wayne Case works in the film industry in Hollywood.

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