The Big Tease

The mousse hits the fan in this mostly funny mock-umentary about self proclaimed Scottish “hairstyle artiste” Crawford Mackenzie (Craig Ferguson) who, after being invited to come to Los Angeles to the Platinum Scissors Hair Styling Competition, discovers that he is part of a random computer sampling invited to attend, not to compete! Nonetheless, Crawford manages to parlay having cut Sean Connery's hair into a hairstyling encounter with a Hollywood agent, and in L.A., of course,  it's not who you know, it's who you “do.” Kevin Allen (the actual director) offers a hilarious turn as the director of a self-important documentary being made about Mackenzie's odyssey, as does David Rasche as the evil Norwegian hairdressing king, Stig Ludwigssen (any film with a Norwegian as the hairdressing villain with his own line of salon products has my full attention). Frankly, I would rather have seen Albert Brooks try to talk his way into the festival than Crawford and the film is not as funny as classic mock-umentaries such as This Is Spinal Tap or Waiting For Guffman. Still, its more fun than any beauty parlor I've ever been in and the hair styles at the final competition are worth the price of admission alone. Recommended. (R. Ray)