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Blow Dry

EMAILPRINTMiramax Films

Blow Dry reviews
38
8.1 User Score:

Generally unfavorable reviews

Based on 19 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 7 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Comedy

Written by: Simon Beaufoy

Directed by: Paddy Breathnach

Release Date:
Theatrical: March 7, 2001
DVD: August 14, 2001

Running Time: 90 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: R for some language and brief nudity

Starring Hugh Bonneville, Rachael Leigh Cook, Rachel Griffiths, Josh Hartnett, Heidi Klum, Natasha Richardson, and Alan Rickman

When the National Hairdressing Championships descend upon a small and unsuspecting Yorkshire town, no one is prepared for the glamour and the heartache, the scheming and the cheating which disrupt their lives. (Intermedia Films)

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

80

Washington Post Stephen Hunter

It's fun. Hey, it's almost spring, Rickman is fabulous and so is Richardson. Warren Clarke is continually funny. And Heidi Klum alone will melt the snows of yesteryear.

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75

Philadelphia Inquirer Desmond Ryan

If Blow Dry isn't a rousing triumph on the order "of The Full Monty" and "Brassed Off," Rickman, Richardson and Nighy make sure it's a winning film.

60

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

This comedy-drama was written by Simon Beaufoy, who brought us "The Full Monty," and it has some of the same gamy mix of alternative sexuality and working-class heart.

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50

Film.com Robert Horton

It may be possible that people who never go to the movies will stumble across Blow Dry and find it a charming way to spend an hour and a half, but the rest of us will have the ending written in our heads by the end of the first five minutes.

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50

Mr. Showbiz Kevin Maynard

Shows its roots early on: Mixing the high camp of "Strictly Ballroom" with Monty's gritty milieu, the film comes off as little more than a contrived composite, despite the best efforts of pros Rickman, Richardson, and Griffiths.

50

Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington

A cute, well-acted film that tries to mix tones sharply.

50

Boston Globe Jay Carr

The characters, in short, are never given enough dimension, enough chance to develop the individual tics and eccentricities on which this kind of comedy thrives.

50

Baltimore Sun Chris Kaltenbach

A feel-good us-against-them tale that panders mercilessly to its audience, yet displays a few moments of honest humor.

50

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

Despite its dollops of good-natured humor and sentiment, Blow Dry is likely to play better on the tube as a likable-enough diversion.

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50

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

The result is formulaic, shamelessly manipulative and surprisingly watchable.

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50

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

Written by Mr. ''Full Monty'' himself, Simon Beaufoy, and, like ''Monty,'' sprinkles pixie dust over the heads of worn out local folk.

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50

San Francisco Chronicle Bob Graham

At least a half monty.

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40

Variety Robert Koehler

Limp comedy-drama.

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30

Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan

Although filled with fey, flamboyant characters, the stereotype of the gay hairdresser seems to have been meticulously expunged.

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30

The New York Times Dana Stevens

Seems both overplotted and underimagined, though there is at least some creativity and a dose of realism, evident in the hairstyles themselves.

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30

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

A limp and lackluster affair that telegraphs its feel-good smarm miles in advance.

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25

New York Daily News Jami Bernard

Rickman and Richardson are excellent actors put to ghastly waste.

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12

Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman

The most catastrophic misfire in a dreadful movie season.

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10

LA Weekly Hazel-Dawn Dumpert

There are gruelingly unfunny gags, an unspeakable soundtrack featuring BTO and Billy Ocean, and Victoria's Secret mannequin Heidi Klum as a model who demands that her pussy hair be styled into a bushy red heart.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 7 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Fred gave it a 10:
Great, hilarious, in two words: hair dressing ;o) A very good comedy that both can teach you about life and hair styling! Do you need to be called Shakespeare to make a good story in UK? They all prove us NO! Congratulations to all!

Debbie C. gave it a 9:
I really liked it, it was very funny and easy to watch! Being from Yorkshire I didn't think much to Josh's accent though!

Chrissey L. gave it an 8:
It is a fun movie to watch...but a hit with Josh Hartnett's fans!

Katie W. gave it a 10:
This movie was hilarious.

Tahir J. gave it a 10:
Great actors and a sparkling movie with everything :-)

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