Believe (most of) the hype

Rating: Null/10 (10 September 2002)

I didn't find Hedwig as hysterically funny as most of the reviews I'd read had led me to believe it was, but it is bitingly funny none the less. It's gritty, emotional (in a real rather than sentimental sense) and peppered with moments of wicked humour courtesy of the ongoing narration by the central character, a virtual one-man tour de force by John Cameron Mitchell. Although the music is essential to the story I did find that there was perhaps too much of it  but this could be because much of it is (presumably intentionally) awful.
Destined to be a late-night favourite at cult screenings, partly because of the singalong nature of the songs, with lyrics appearing on screen at one point. Fans of the Rocky Horror Picture Show will lap it up, but you don't have to like that overrated, odious piece of celluloid claptrap to enjoy the fabulous Hedwig.