The stage musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie was inspired by the BBC documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16.
The film version excises some of the songs but still leaves the movie too long with the story too thin.
Jamie New (Max Harwood) is 16 years old and in the final year of his high school in Sheffield. Life is dull and career prospects is basically factory work.
Jamie is flamboyant, mocked by those in school as gay. His father abandoned Jamie for not being the macho son he wanted. His mother Margaret (Sarah Lancashire) is supportive of Jamie's penchant for cross dressing.
With the help from his Muslim classmate Pritti. Jamie decides to go to his school prom in drag. His teacher Miss Hedge is antagonistic with the idea especially as Dean the class bully refuses to attend such a freak show.
Jamie finds a mentor in ageing drag queen Hugo (Richard E Grant) who once performed as Loco Chanel.
This is a light feelgood musical. Too light for my tastes. The best and quirkiest bits were from Grant especially when you see Loco's backstory and the struggle for gay and trans rights.
I would argue that in recent years transphobia has gone worse and even mildly legitimised.
The film version needed more darkness. There is an air of that as Miss Hedge seems more concerned about Dean's rights than Jamie's to attend the prom in a dress. The head Mr Masood who is another Muslim character seems to be absent for so much of that conflict.
The film version excises some of the songs but still leaves the movie too long with the story too thin.
Jamie New (Max Harwood) is 16 years old and in the final year of his high school in Sheffield. Life is dull and career prospects is basically factory work.
Jamie is flamboyant, mocked by those in school as gay. His father abandoned Jamie for not being the macho son he wanted. His mother Margaret (Sarah Lancashire) is supportive of Jamie's penchant for cross dressing.
With the help from his Muslim classmate Pritti. Jamie decides to go to his school prom in drag. His teacher Miss Hedge is antagonistic with the idea especially as Dean the class bully refuses to attend such a freak show.
Jamie finds a mentor in ageing drag queen Hugo (Richard E Grant) who once performed as Loco Chanel.
This is a light feelgood musical. Too light for my tastes. The best and quirkiest bits were from Grant especially when you see Loco's backstory and the struggle for gay and trans rights.
I would argue that in recent years transphobia has gone worse and even mildly legitimised.
The film version needed more darkness. There is an air of that as Miss Hedge seems more concerned about Dean's rights than Jamie's to attend the prom in a dress. The head Mr Masood who is another Muslim character seems to be absent for so much of that conflict.