Seriously Red

In Seriously Red, the titular Red (Krew Boylan, who also penned the script) is stuck in a dead-end job and lives in her mother’s converted garage. However, when she puts on a blonde wig and a sequin dress, she transforms herself into her lifelong idol, Dolly Parton. When Red is fired from her job following some inappropriate behaviour at an office party while dressed as the Jolene singer, she seizes the opportunity chance to become a Parton impersonator. She immediately shines in her new job and even falls head-over-heels for a Kenny Rogers act (Daniel Webber). She’s living the life she’s always wanted – but her own identity is slowly being lost in the process.

Boylan brings plenty of energy to the lead role, both as Red and Parton: not only does she nail the country star’s southern charm, but the actor likewise blasts out the singer’s repertoire with gusto. She’s a delight to watch and epitomises this Aussie flick’s light-hearted spirit of fun. Webber similarly gives a solid stint as Rogers and Rose Byrne does her best Elvis impression to round out the cast.

These characters are so consumed by their adoptive personas that they have no other personality beyond who they’re mimicking.  Alongside being a plot device to explore themes of identity, this premise functions as a solid foundation for a joke that takes aim at celebrity and showbiz that gets some chuckles. However, Boylan plays this aspect of her script too safe to get the most out of her ideas. The result is a plot that feels all-too familiar despite its oddball spin.

Channelling the excess energy of drag acts, this film doesn’t hold back with its visual style. The bold reds and blues that dominate the sets are as ostentatious as the make-up and costume design of Red’s fellow impersonators. The effect looks to be going for kitsch, as if the filmmakers were using Parton’s one-liner, “It costs a lot of money to look this cheap”, as guidance. The effect given, though, is more garish than it is charming, with an unintentionally nightmarish fever dream of a dance sequence best representing this feature’s peculiar style.

There’s an admirable carefree spirit at the heart of this indie comedy. But its cookie-cutter plot and mediocre gags are what let it down.

Andrew Murray

Seriously Red is released digitally on demand on 13^th February 2023.

Watch the trailer for Seriously Red here: