Blow Dry (2001)

In 2000, a small town hosts The British Hairdressing Championship, where a former 2-time winner, his son, his run-away wife and his runaway wife's lady lover reside (not all on speaking terms).

Director:

Paddy Breathnach

Writer:

Simon Beaufoy

Stars:

Alan Rickman, Natasha Richardson, Rachel Griffiths

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alan Rickman	...	Phil Allen
Natasha Richardson	...	Shelley Allen
Rachel Griffiths	...	Sandra
Rachael Leigh Cook	...	Christina Robertson
Josh Hartnett	...	Brian Allen
Bill Nighy	...	Ray (Raymond) Robertson
Warren Clarke	...	Tony
Rosemary Harris	...	Daisy
Hugh Bonneville	...	Louis
Heidi Klum	...	Jasmine
Peter McDonald	...	Vincent
Michael McElhatton	...	Robert
David Bradley	...	Noah
Ben Crompton	...	Saul
Ann Rye	...	Margaret, Farmer's Wife (as Anne Rye)

Storyline

The annual British Hairdressing Championship comes to Keighley, a town where Phil and son Brian run a barbershop, and where Phil's ex-wife Shelly and her lover Sandra run a beauty salon, yet Phil and Shelly haven't talked in the ten years since she bolted. Shelley's just found out her cancer is terminal, and Ray Roberts, the reigning underhanded hairdressing champion, blows into town taunting Phil for retreating from competitive styling into barbering. Roberts also brings his daughter, Christina, who remembers Brian from when she was a little kid (as does he her). Everything's set: Brian decides to enter the competition with his mom and Sandra. Will Phil join in? Ray wants to win at any costs. Will Christina go along?

---

Plot Keywords:

bride and groom figurine | hair clippers | barber shop | hair salon | bed and breakfast | 

---

Taglines:

An outrageous new comedy for anyone who's ever had hair.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some language and brief nudity

Did You Know?

Trivia

Rachael Leigh Cook turned down the role of Rogue in X-Men (2000) to make this film. She had no interest in working with CGI.

---

Goofs

Throughout the movie, we are told that Shelley and Sandra left Phil ten years ago, when Phil was in line for his third straight national championship. The current competition is Hair 2000 (and is sometimes called the championships of the year 2000, to confirm that isn't "just" a name), yet when his honors are announced near the end of the movie, we are told he was national champion in 1981 and 1982. For this to be true, Shelley and Sandra must have walked out on him seventeen years ago.

---

Quotes

Phil Allen: Just because summat's fixed don't mean you can't break it.

---

Crazy Credits

Tony lip-syncs to the Elvis Presley song "I Just Can't Help Believing" through the end credits, dressed like Elvis.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Graham Norton Show: Nicole Kidman/Hugh Bonneville/Julie Walters/Take That (2014)

---

Soundtracks

Be Loved
Written by Joey Johnson & Felton Sayles
Published by Red Engine Music & Revision West
Performed by Joey Johnson & Felton Sayles
Courtesy of Marc Ferrari/Master Source

User Reviews

Make sure your hairdresser hasn't seen this film before you make your appointment!

A welcome break from the usual gratuitous violence of the average modern film, this is a colourful fantasy with some excellent performances from British stalwarts. The wonderful Alan Rickman plays Phil, the deserted and disappointed husband of Shelley, played poignantly by Natasha Richardson. Phil owns a small barber's shop in the Yorkshire town of Keighley, but in the past he has been a champion in UK hairdressing. However, life's traumas have reduced him to giving up any thought of ambitions on the public hairdressing stage. When former rival hairdresser Raymond, (Bill Nighy) arrives in Phil's home town for the national hairdressing championships the scene is set for a dramatic confrontation and by the end of the competition many people's lives have altered. Warren Clarke gives a bravura performance as the town's mayor, who gradually metamorphoses from a boring local official to an ever more ebullient show host. The requisite romance is provided with a touch of the Romeo-and-Juliets. This will probably be considered a `woman's film' but every hairdresser in Britain of either sex will want to see it. Overall, although the progression of the plot is fairly predictable, if you can leave your critical faculties at home for the evening it could be an enjoyable fairy story.

Details

Country:

USA UK Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 March 2001 (UK)

Also Known As:

Blow Dry

Filming Locations:

Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$240,166, 11 March 2001

Gross USA:

$637,769

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$830,286

Company Credits

Production Co:

IMF Internationale Medien und Film GmbH & Co. Produktions KG, Intermedia Films, Mirage Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1