Based on the West End musical of the same name, itself adapted from the BBC Three documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16, Everybody's Talking About Jamie is the latest jump from stage to screen. Produced in cooperation with the stage production's creative team, the film introduces the extraordinary Max Harwood as the titular Sheffield teen who battles prejudice to find his identity.
Jamie New is your average 16-year-old boy. He goes to high school, has to pass maths, spends time with his best friend... oh, and he enjoys crossdressing. His mother is the most supportive parent any gay kid could ask for but his father has given up on him completely. Mum can't bear to break her son's heart and covers for the neglect.
In his search for his drag persona, Jamie meets drag shop owner Hugo (the always fabulous Richard E. Grant), who once housed warrior queen Loco Chanelle in her blood red dress. Hugo takes Jamie under his frock to help this insecure lad unleash his inner divinity.
The film makes it clear from the get-go that the viewer is getting a musical, with the disclaimer: "This story really happened... and then we added the singing and dancing." Jonathan Butterell, of the original production, makes his feature film directorial debut here, with a screenplay by Tom MacRae from his own book. In the vein of other stage-to-screen adaptations this year, I've come to the conclusion that anything cut was done for good reason. It's noticeable here as a chunk of the original score is absent.
Harwood is a force not to be reckoned with in his very first role. A young star with the heart and the humor to embody such a complex but relatable character. His co-stars are no less talented. Lauren Patel plays Pritti, a studious young woman with a biting wit and all the best friend qualities a gay kid needs. Sharon Horgan really struts her stuff as the practical Year 11 instructor Miss Hedge. And while I'll sing the praises of Richard E. Grant until the end of time, the MVP goes to Sarah Lancashire, who, as Jamie's mother Margaret, has such raw emotional depth that'll bring tears, see "He's My Boy".
However, the film is not without its issues. While Jamie is a genuine delight, one can't shake the feeling that the filmmakers played this daring story too safe. There are points where provocativity could be more... well, provocative, but it's overshadowed by a constant fairy tale light, as if protecting the audience from the realities that come with seeking one's identity via crossdressing. This imbalance of reality vs fantasy causes an uneven tone.
Is it perfect? No. Is it a delight? Oh, most definitely. Sometimes that's all you need. I showered praise on Jamie at its Frameline premiere, but a rewatch in its limited theatrical release made me realize (likely thanks to the absence of a cheering crowd) the nitpicks. I think I wanted so badly to love it three months prior to official release, but it's still a fun little movie that should provide a bright light for everyone... at least until they get emotionally manipulated by Dear Evan Hansen.
