When a story is built around a person finding their way in life, it’s always more engaging if you feel empathetic towards that person and it is here that Seriously Red presents several challenges. Had the character of Red been a man their behaviour would be easy to dismiss as boorish and guilty of moments of toxic masculinity.

Flipping the script around to the female gender diffuses some of this but it’s still problematic. Within the context of those limitations, you sympathise with Red’s desire to find a place in the world while being frustrated by the circular nature of her self-sabotage. Many of her decisions are hard to fathom and this forces you to try to put yourself in her shoes.

There is no single path to self-fulfilment and the film challenges you to see past your own views on many things. In this regard, it is a successful work and its moments of humour ease the journey. Whether you see this as a provocation or entertainment, only you can decide.
Rob Hudson
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A vivacious and hilarious redhaired woman grappling with high expectations and low selfesteem, she pours herself a cup of ambition and trades her 9 to 5 career in real estate for a life under the spotlight as a Dolly Parton impersonator.

After misreading her work party’s dress code, Red tumbles outta bed into a new world of tribute artists and impersonators in her wild and messy journey that includes romancing a Kenny Rogers impersonator. Red has to lose herself in order to find herself. As Dolly Parton says, “Be yourself because, everyone else is taken.”

Seriously Red is directed by Gracie Otto and stars Krew Boylan, Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale, Daniel Webber, Celeste Barber, Thomas Campbell, Jean Kittson, Wayne Blair and Todd Lassance.

Seriously Red is coming to Australian cinemas on November 24, 2022.
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