Freak Show *** (2017, Alex Lawther, AnnaSophia Robb, Abigail Breslin, Bette Midler, John McEnroe) – Movie Review

Sweet, funny and saying all the right stuff really well.

Director Trudie Styler’s Freak Show is sweet and funny, and says all the right stuff really well.

Alex Lawther gives a brave and great performance in a tricky role as confident gay American teenager Billy Bloom who refuses to fit in, gets beaten up for wearing make-up, and decides to run for homecoming queen at his conservative high school.

The amusing cameos from Bette Midler (as the drunken, much absent mother Muv) and John McEnroe (as Coach Carter) add attraction. Ian Nelson is neat as Flip Kelly, the jock who surprisingly befriends Billy, Larry Pine is strong as the bossy father William, Celia Weston scores as the put-upon housekeeper Florence, Michael Park plays school Principal Onnigan and AnnaSophia Robb and Abigail Breslin, try to find some room as Blah Blah Blah and the friendly outsider Lynette.

Patrick J Clifton and Beth Rigazio write the screenplay, based on the novel by James St James.

Brilliant young actor Lawther was 22 at the time, and born in Hampshire, England in 1995, but he has no problem playing a gay American teenager.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Movie Review

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