Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

Directed by Jonathan Butterell

★★★½

Max Harwood and Sarah Lancishire star in Everybody's Talking About Jamie

Sure, the music may sound like something I would have listened to in high school back in 2010, but Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’s committed performances and earnest nature help make it a hell of a good time.

The film follows the titular Jamie, as he navigates high school in the U.K. with aspirations of becoming a drag queen. Jamie is out and proud, and while character cliches abound in those who antagonize him, Max Harwood’s triumphant performance fleshes out Jamie into that of a realized character made for the screen, not just the stage.

The movie has some pacing issues, especially in the latter half of the second act. The film sometimes rushes through some serious issues and even wholly forgets a couple by the time the credits roll.

The rest of the cast is rounded out by some fun performances (and one not so fun from Ralph Ineson as Jamie’s dad) especially Richard E. Grant as Jamie’s mentor and elder drag queen. However, the standout of the entire film is Sarah Lancashire as Jamie’s loving mother. Lancashire manages to bring the laughs, while also being the heart and soul of the entire film. Her song ‘My Boy’ made me ugly cry at 5pm on a Tuesday. In a perfect world, she would receive a Supporting Actress nod from the Academy (but in this world we give awards to Bohemian Rhapsody and Joker).

While it may not be a perfect film, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie has enough heart and grit to put a smile on just about any moviegoer’s face, even those who might not be the target audience for a bombastic pop, drag queen musical.