SERIOUSLY RED
Australia, 2022, 94 minutes, Colour.
Krew Boylan, Daniel Webber, Rose Byrne, Celeste Barber, Bobby Cannavale, Thomas Campbell, Todd Lasance, Jean Kitson, Wayne Blair, Tony Barry, Jack Thompson, Danii Minogue, Nell Campbell.
Directed by Gracie Otto.
No, not communist propaganda! Rather, something of the opposite – a venture into a type of free trading, a focus on personality and identity, changing identity, impersonation, especially of celebrities.
Krew Boylan, who wrote the screenplay and stars as Red, is a lively character, a free spirit, irritating many, not dependable. And we see this fairly quickly as she is fired from her job at a real estate agency even though she gets the award for best clown in the office! Her mother, Jean Kitson, is severe on her while her grandfather, veteran Tony Barry, is rather more tolerant. And she has a nice childhood friend, Frank, Thomas Campbell, who, despite all the odds, tries to help, loves her.
When we visit Red’s room, we find that she is devoted to Dolly Parton, dressing as her to receive her clown award. However, she is spotted by an agent (Celeste Barber) and given some opportunities to audition as Dolly. But, most of the impersonators at the clubs are cross-dressing men impersonating their favourite stars like Barbra Streisand and Lady Gaga. Red has to try to persuade them that she is the real thing. And there is a clash with the compere, impersonating Elvis and, unless we knew beforehand, we wouldn’t recognise that Elvis is being played by Rose Byrne who, we are told, was the contact between the film and Dolly Parton herself who gave permission for all the songs and some clips of interviews with her as well as a range of quotes which appear on screen, something between Shakespeare and Christmas card exhortations!.
Audiences who enjoyed Dolly Parton as a character, enjoy listening to her songs and lyrics, will be continually pleased throughout the film, so many of her favourites. And, of course, Dolly Parton teamed with Kenny Rogers and this form something of a pattern for the screenplay here, Daniel Webber as a Kenny Rogers impersonator, attracted to Red, absolutely devoted (to quote another song).
So, while Red is successful in this impersonation world, supported by her agent, getting some serious support from the head of the agency, played by Bobby Cannavale a former Neil Diamond impersonator, doing this very well with a rendition of a song that highlights the film’s themes, “I am, I said…”, she jets off to Hong Kong to perform, tours around Australia, her mother disbelieving! And poor Frank, often on the receiving end of Red’s disdain.
However, ultimately, this is quite a moralising film, despite the fact that there are some crass and tacky moments. Ultimately, especially when Kenny proposes on stage, Red has to think about who she really is, having become Dolly Parton in dress, behaviour, attitudes, songs, giving up her own personality.
The world of the impersonator, camaraderie, jealousies, audience acclaim, can be very attractive – but what does it do to the real underlying person, personality? Red has something of a rude awakening – but a final acknowledgement of her true self.
- The title? The focus on Red, her personality and character, comic and serious, Dolly Parton, skilful impersonation, possible career, understanding herself?
- Australian humour, in the tradition of Strictly Ballroom, Priscilla, Muriel…? The blend of the serious and comic, touch of farce, camp, humour?
- The settings, the workplace, home, the clubs, travel to Hong Kong and performance, on tour, the blend of the exotic and the commonplace?
- Dolly Parton giving permission for the songs, the clips of her speaking, the aphorisms on screen throughout the film, only advice?
- The range of Dolly Parton songs, the favourites, audiences enjoying them, performance, on stage, the partnership with Kenny Rogers?
- Red, antagonism with her mother, her mother being demanding? Not affirming her? Ramps, at home, supportive? Her friendship with Frances, from the young days, his devotion to her, at work, unreliable, arriving late, her boss, the party, dressing as Dolly Parton, the performance, the award for the clown, her being fired?
- Francis, his character, loving Red, supporting her, her treatment of him, his being hurt, his dating the lawyer, yet his continued devotion? Confronting her with the truth?
- The impersonators, the drag Queens, the clubs? The agent, impressed by Red, encouraging her, the audition, speaking to Wilson? Wilson, his background as impersonator, his performance of I Am? Wary, yet giving Red the chance?
- Elvis, the compere, rose Byrne’s performance, attitude towards Red, jealousies, the night together, the aftermath? The range of other drag Queens, performance, Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga…?
- Kenny, impersonating Kenny Rogers, assuming his personality, his singing, the performances with Red, success, the tour? The bond between them, sexual? His absence, his return, the performance on stage, the proposal, her hesitation?
- Red, returning home, her mother, dating, going to the performance, surprised? Change of heart?
- Red, having to face herself, the world of impersonation, becoming Dolly, but being herself, and his proposal, her decisions, Francis and his support?
- Red, finding herself, becoming the teacher, communicating with others?
