Hell on Heels: The Battle of Mary Kay (2002) (TV)

Director:

Ed Gernon

Writer (WGA):

Patricia Resnick (written by)

Release Date:

7 October 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Challenging the queen of makeup isn't pretty.

Plot:

The film is about 2 companies who are battling it out for customers, Mary Kay (Shirley MacLaine), and...

Plot Keywords:

Cosmetics Industry | Irreverence | Business Rivalry | Cosmetics | Beauty

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes.

Cast

Shirley MacLaine	...	Mary Kay
R.H. Thomson	...	Richard Rogers
Barry Flatman	...	Dick Heath
Rachael Crawford	...	Annika Kern
Dean McKenzie	...	Clifton Sanders (as Dean Monroe McKenzie)
Marnie McPhail	...	Brooke
Shannen Doherty	...	Lexi Wilcox
Parker Posey	...	Jinger Heath
Rebecca Gibson	...	Tanya
Catherine Fitch	...	Beverly
Maggie Butterfield	...	Doris
Terri Cherniak	...	Liz
Marina Stephenson Kerr	...	Chris
Rhiannon Benedict	...	Haley (as Valerie Wynne)
Paul Christie	...	Lexy's Hubby

Also Known As:

L'empire de Mary Kay (Canada: French title)
The Battle of Mary Kay (UK)

Runtime:

USA:100 min | USA:120 min | Argentina:120 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:PG | Netherlands:AL | UK:PG | Argentina:Atp | Italy:T

Filming Locations:

Centennial Concert Hall, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Company:

Alliance Atlantis Communications

Trivia:

Based on a true story.

Quotes:

Lexi Wilcox: [Lexi goes to a door] Aileen i was not trying to sell anything.
Aileen: You said, my friends would not talk to me for a week after the last time ...
[she closes to the door and then opens it a few moments later]
Aileen: Take your damn make-up with you.

Movie Connections:

References Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

Wicked, but one-note comedic showdown

Mary Kay Cosmetics founder Mary Kay Ash (Shirley MacLaine, well-cast) sees her empire challenged seriously for the first time with the Jinger Heath-fronted BeautiControl; but the new competitor, helmed by greedy upstarts, neglects to take into consideration the longevity in Mary Kay's cut-rate homilies and fiercely devoted sales-team, and the showdown begins. Jazzy, cynically-comic behind-the-scenes glimpse at big business, powder puff style. Yet the most interesting scenes are the more subtle ones in which Jinger Heath (the fabulous Parker Posey) is shown, unintentionally or not, aping her competitor's flossy social business style and manners, giving facile beauty tips with a beaming smile that belies an ignorance of the big picture. This TV-movie offers MacLaine in particular one of the best roles she's had in years; a cunning shark dolled up to look like an accidentally-on-purpose corporate czar, MacLaine nails this headstrong, stubborn lady who never lets anything slip passed her. The two leads (and Shannen Doherty as Mary Kay's most fervent saleswoman) approach this winking material with such moxie and self-assurance that it's a far more entertaining gossip-monger than it has any right to be. The handling is knowing and clever, but surface-cute. It scores points by not making the main ensemble out to be either saints or devils, yet its satire occasionally teeters toward self-parody.