I quite like Dolly Parton, and am a fan of comedy. Let's not say this clunked so much as... owed a lot to Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Muriels Wedding and Strictly Ballroom.
Jingoistic (without being "pro-war", in the archaic use)? Sure. A little bit "panto"? Definitely. But in the end with a bit of charm... like some kids who tried REALLY hard and are panting and waiting for your applause.
The script felt like it had been done by kid's tv producers who threw in a few bonking scenes to make it adult (the bum shot made me cringe). And the styling was a kind of obvious orange... and yet somewhat confusedly/contrasting blue, mostly achieved through buckets of paint. I had to leave the room in embarrassment at the end when the impersonator finally realises she's got to live in her own skin and ultimately becomes a teacher (I think).
I'd feel too mean to fail this, as it had enough to keep us going, but keep your expectations modest. And being a critic is a piss ant job because you only pick the flaws and not the pearls.
Jingoistic (without being "pro-war", in the archaic use)? Sure. A little bit "panto"? Definitely. But in the end with a bit of charm... like some kids who tried REALLY hard and are panting and waiting for your applause.
The script felt like it had been done by kid's tv producers who threw in a few bonking scenes to make it adult (the bum shot made me cringe). And the styling was a kind of obvious orange... and yet somewhat confusedly/contrasting blue, mostly achieved through buckets of paint. I had to leave the room in embarrassment at the end when the impersonator finally realises she's got to live in her own skin and ultimately becomes a teacher (I think).
I'd feel too mean to fail this, as it had enough to keep us going, but keep your expectations modest. And being a critic is a piss ant job because you only pick the flaws and not the pearls.