260. Freak Show; movie review

FREAK SHOW
Cert 12A
91 mins
BBFC advice: Contains moderate violence, discrimination theme, sex references, strong language

I am all for using movies as a vehicle to promote tolerance and diversity but I would ask whether there have been too many and at whom they are aimed.
I pose this question because, sadly, there is no chance that bullying alpha males will watch Freak Show and, therefore, it will probably be preaching to the converted.
If Trudie Styler is only intending it to be entertainment rather than a campaign then she succeeds on only one level - thanks to her lead, Alex Lawther.
Lawther's performance is worth watching because it demonstrates verve and versatility. Otherwise, Freak Show is overflowing with teen movie cliches.
Lawther plays Billy Bloom, a gay teenager who enjoys shocking with his attire and antics.
However, his actions are a veil over his sadness at his unhappy home life and also act as cover for social insecurities.
Bette Midler is the mother on whom he dotes but little deserves his adoration. Her character is separated from her rich traditionalist husband (Larry Pine) who struggles to touch first base with his flamboyant son.
At school, Billy fares little better, being the butt of the bullies and even the god-fearing leader of the cheerleaders (a rather out-of-place Abigail Breslin).
But he does find unlikely friends in a star footballer (Ian Nelson) and a well-meaning motormouth (AnnaSophia Robb).
So, the American school stereotypes line up to be eventually won over by the initially outcast gay student.
In other words, Freak Show goes over the same ground as Love, Simon but this time its main character uses a sledgehammer in order to be accepted.
In both cases, the outcomes are a little bit too obvious and unrealistic.
I think that gay students who would have watched both would hope that real life resolutions were so simple or even that the bullies would have seen them.
They are not and they will not.

Reasons to watch: Its laudable message and Alex Lawther's flamboyant performance
Reasons to avoid: Stereotypical characters and easy resolutions

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 5.5/10

Director quote - Trudie Styler: "Bullying is an ordinary evil. We allow things to be said, we condone things that are said, we’ve turned blind eyes to bad things that we’ve seen and it’s something that is remarkably familiar at the workplace and can be at home and certainly at schools."

The big question - Will school bullying ever end?

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