Kinky Boots

Wry Britishisms abound in Julian Jarrold’s spicy working-class rave-up story about Charlie Price (Joel Edgerton) a hesitant shoe factory heir who transforms his failing English Midlands factory into makers of sexy fetish boots designed by a visionary cross-dressing nightclub performer named Lola (Chiwetel Ejiofor). The film falls short of its initially obvious dramatic goals due to the shallow depths that screenwriters Geoff Deane and Tim Firth take their characters. Nevertheless, Chiwetel Ejiofor is commanding in his performance, much like Tim Curry’s famed cross-dressing singer role in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Joel Edgerton ("King Arthur") gives a reasoned performance hamstrung by the narrow limitations of his character as it’s written.

Rated PG-13. 107 mins. (C) (Two Stars)