Rachel Griffiths in Blow Dry (2001)

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Blow Dry (2001) is about the 2000 National British Hairdressing Championships, and more particularly, about the home town favorites where it is being hosted -- Keighley, in Northern England.

Seems the favorite, Ray (Bill Nighy) will do anything to win for the third straight year including cheating, and only fears that Phil (Alan Rickman), who lives in Keighley and owns a barber shop, will enter the competition. Seems Phil was the best there was, and was ready to win his third straight competition when his wife, Shelly (Natasha Richardson) ran off with his model Sandra (Rachel Griffiths) the night before the competition.

Even though Phil and his son live within shouting distance of Shelly and Sandra, they haven't spoken in 10 years. The son, Brian (Josh Hartnett) is now cutting hair in his fathers shop, and wants to enter the competition to put Ray in his place. Shelly also wants to enter the competition for reasons of her own. She has cancer, and wants the four of them to get back together before her death.

The plot is fairly predictable, and the film is mostly low key, but most of the jokes work, and the idea of hairdressers dueling nearly to the death for the "Silver Scissors" trophy struck me funny all by itself.

Scores consistent with an ok comedy. C.

Nudity Report: Griffiths wears body paint and wings and nothing else in the final event of the competition, and Heidi Klum as another model wears some skimpy undies. I enjoyed this, although it might have been that I was in the mood for unchallenging entertainment.

Critics Vote: Berardinelli says 2 1/2 stars

IMDB Summary: 6.5 out of 10

Box Office: The film enjoyed a full release that lasted for two weeks, and the total US gross was $637,769


Written by: Scoopy …scoopy.net