The Big Tease (1999)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Kevin Allen

Writers (WGA):

Sacha Gervasi (written by) &
Craig Ferguson (written by)

Release Date:

28 January 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

He saw. He combed. He conquered.

Plot:

Flamboyant Glasgow hairdresser, Crawford Mackinzie, gets a letter from the World Hairdresser International...

Plot Keywords:

Hairdresser | Competition | Reference To Liberace | Scotland | Homosexual

Cast

Craig Ferguson	...	Crawford Mackenzie
Chris Langham	...	BBC Interviewer
David Rasche	...	Stig
Frances Fisher	...	Candy
Mary McCormack	...	Monique
Donal Logue	...	Eamonn
Isabella Aitken	...	Mrs. Beasie Mackenzie
Kevin Allen	...	Gareth Trundle
Angela McCluskey	...	Senga Magoogan
Francine York	...	Elegant Woman
David Hasselhoff	...	Himself
Drew Carey	...	Himself
Cathy Lee Crosby	...	Herself
Bruce Jenner	...	Himself
Nina Siemaszko	...	Betty Fuego

Also Known As:

Je M'Appelle Crawford (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Australia:M | Canada:PG (Canadian Home Video rating) | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Germany:6 | UK:15 | USA:R (No. 36390) | Italy:T | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The script was snapped up by Warner Brothers after a five day bidding war.

Quotes:

Crawford Mackenzie: [Crawford is showing off a new outfit] Just something I threw together. I call it... Braveheart meets Liberace-Bravache!

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Braveheart (1995)

Soundtrack:

Shashkin

Amusing mockumentary with absurd humour

The documentary filmmaker Martin Samuels joins Scottish hairdresser Crawford Mackenzie as he sets out for LA to take part in the Platinum Scissors Hairdressing competition. On arrival he runs up a large hotel bill before discovering that his `invitation' is not to compete but to attend in the audience. Out of his hotel and out of money, Crawford tries to get into the competition and wins over the trend setters of Beverly Hills and, with a little bit of luck and deceit tries to work his way into the contest

I had never heard of this film prior to it's TV premier in the UK, I imagine it's the same with a lot of people – it's a British comedy but it never managed to get the same high profile as more notable successes. However this is not to take from this film as it is pretty funny and gently amusing. The plot is nonsense but I think that is the point – it's is increasingly absurd – just like the actual competition and Hollywood lifestyle that Crawford finds himself thrust into. The comedy is rarely hilarious but it is consistently funny nonetheless – being more amusing than rip-roaring. The sheer wit and energy of the film manages to carry it over the odd dry spell.

Ferguson is suitably flaming as Crawford and is sweetly naïve for the most part. Langham is very dry as Samuels and I wanted him to have more screen time than he did – many other mock-documentaries have successfully made much better use of the dry humour of the interviewer. The support cast are good on the whole and don't mind making fun of themselves. Rasche is good as the two-faced Stig. While comedy cameos from Drew Carey and David Hasselhoff work well. Miller is always value for money and is good in his brief scene.

Overall this is a nice short little comedy that is lively and absurd. It is rarely hilarious but you'll watch it with a consistent smile on your face. Perfect if you're in a silly mood and looking for something with a bit of fizz.