Blow Dry (2000)

19% of critics liked it
(64 reviews)
52% of users liked it
(9,762 ratings)

When the tiny burgh of Keighley lands the rights to host the annual British hairdressing championships, practically every city in the United Kingdom is represented in the competition -- except Keighley itself. It seems the event is team-oriented, and the only suitable local contestants had a huge… More When the tiny burgh of Keighley lands the rights to host the annual British hairdressing championships, practically every city in the United Kingdom is represented in the competition -- except Keighley itself. It seems the event is team-oriented, and the only suitable local contestants had a huge falling out a decade ago. For Brian (Josh Hartnett), the son of two hairdressers, that falling out had personal consequences: His mother Shelley (Natasha Richardson) left his father Phil (Alan Rickman) to take up with Phil's hair model Sandra (Rachel Griffiths). Since then, former styling champ Phil has settled for training Brian to help run his lowly barber shop, while Shelley and Sandra have opened a salon of their own. But when Shelley learns that she has terminal cancer, she reaches out to her family in hopes that a reunion for the hairdressing contest might help them all find some sense of closure. To complicate matters, Phil's old arch-nemesis, Ray (Bill Nighy), is now a two-time champ looking for a three-peat, and he's brought along his beautiful American daughter Christina (Rachael Leigh Cook) to work on his team. Blow Dry also marks the screen debut of supermodel Heidi Klum. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: Paddy Breathnach
Written By: Simon Beaufoy
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 7, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Aug 14, 2001
Studio: Miramax Films

Critic Reviews

Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today
The script by Simon Beaufoy of The Full Monty fame is far more soapy than bubbly as it concentrates on extended family entanglements and allows its comic potential to be bleached out by a ponderous mawkish streak.
A.O. Scott, New York Times
Blow Dry seems both overplotted and underimagined.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Blow Dry is enjoyable in a low-key way, but it's far from an unqualified hit, and lacks the infectious energy of Beaufoy's earlier effort.
Paul Tatara, CNN.com
A tedious comedy.
Jay Carr, Boston Globe
What Blow Dry needs, though, is less connect-the-dots and a little more of the waywardness that Warren Clarke's mayor-turned-emcee manages to wring from his limited assignment.
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
It's fun.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
A large ensemble of talented British actors is wasted in this disappointing comedy by Simon Beaufoy, the scribe of the Full Monty.
David Noh, Film Journal International
The whole enterprise is awash in a combined farcical obviousness and drippy sentimentality to induce more audience groans than laughs.
Brent Simon, Entertainment Today
In the end it may be nothing but hot air, but like a warming gust of conditioned wind after that cold morning shower, Blow Dry feels good (enough).
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Shows a hairdresser and his wife learning how to be a family in a new way at the National Hair Championships.
John Venable, Supercala.com
I really don't know who the heck this is supposed to appeal to...
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
The material just isn't up to par.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Film C

an entertaining enough movie, thats funny, enjoyable , and a good enough storyline thats bound to make you love this movie! the yorkshire accent is kinda annoying but bearable with bill nighy and alan rickaman making the film that much more enjoyable to be honest! a good enough movie… More
an entertaining enough movie, thats funny, enjoyable , and a good enough storyline thats bound to make you love this movie! the yorkshire accent is kinda annoying but bearable with bill nighy and alan rickaman making the film that much more enjoyable to be honest! a good enough movie that doesnt offer much but still worth the watch, not my favourite alan rickman movie but it'll do!!
Anthony L

..Blows! Great cast, just isn?t very good.
Megan S

Another one of those movies where I was expecting a comedy based on the previews. It almost made me cry a few times! And Josh Harnett's British accent was kinda terrible, he should stick with drama. It was pretty ridiculous though and a fun movie.
Cassandra M

So it's a comedy about hairdressing. In truth, the hairdressing provides little more than colour commentary (pun intended), because it's the relationships that take first stage, and they take it really well. Alan Rickman is good, sincere and has depth, Josh Hartnett has an… More
So it's a comedy about hairdressing. In truth, the hairdressing provides little more than colour commentary (pun intended), because it's the relationships that take first stage, and they take it really well. Alan Rickman is good, sincere and has depth, Josh Hartnett has an okay delivery ruined by his trying-too-hard faux Yorkshire accent, and Bill Nighy is Bill Nighy, you'll always get a few laughs from him, but the real stars are Rachel Griffiths and Natasha Richardson. Griffiths, in particular, is splendid, going from funny to poignantly hurt to deep, deep love without skipping a beat. Richardson also makes a strong impression, and you can feel the pain in her as the film goes. Oh well... It's a fun film, but it's also a good film.