FREAK SHOW

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Running time

This cross-dressing US high-school comedy is a horribly heavy-handed and dispiritingly joyless experience. Its message of inclusivity is welcome, but sadly delivered via a catty, sneering and narcissistic poor little rich boy.

English actor Alex Lawther gives his all as Billy Bloom, a mansiondwelling lonely teen who’s inherited a love of sequins from his mostly absent showbiz mother, played by Bette Midler.

At a new school, the openly gay Billy faces prejudice and violence, so challenges it by standing for election as the homecoming queen.

Though this explores many of the same ideas as this year’s Love, Simon, there is none of the humour, charm or wit. It’s a wearying debut from director Trudie Styler who has amassed 30 film-producing credits.

She exploits her celebrity contacts as Sting’s wife to serve up tennis ace John McEnroe into a small role as the sports coach. She cannot be serious.