‘Big Tease’ Snips Sweetly at L.A.’s Mane Profession

“The Big Tease” is “Strictly Ballroom” with scissors. And not just any pair of shears, thank you very much. These are the coveted Platinum Scissors, “their origins shrouded in mystery,” presented to the winner of the World Freestyle Hairdressing Championship, L.A.’s annual hair extravaganza. “One hairdo, one stylist, one model,” the emcee breathlessly explains, “one shot at the big prize.”

Wanting that shot is Scottish hairdresser Crawford Mackenzie, ready for the major leagues after “years of dominating the Glasgow hair scene.” Known in his salon as the trouble-shooting “Red Adair of hair” (although, he confides, “we never use explosives”), Crawford understands that the challenges of international competition will be stiff. But, as he tells the BBC documentary crew shadowing his every snip, “this was something I had to do, not for me, for Scotland.”

A breezy look at what befalls Crawford once he lands in L.A., “The Big Tease” is a cheerful and smart mock documentary about hairdressing and Hollywood that knows enough not to take itself too seriously. Loose and lively, it was exactly tailored to the specifications of star Craig Ferguson, who not only plays Crawford, but co-executive-produced the film and co-wrote the cleverly tongue-in-cheek script with Sacha Gervasi.

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Best known as Drew Carey’s boss, Mr. Wick, on the TV show bearing the comedian’s name, Ferguson is energetic and effervescent as the Scottish hair artiste. A cheerful enthusiast with an expansive grin and the willingness to party in clothes he describes as “Braveheart meets Liberace,” Crawford has so much fun living his life that it’s hard not to enjoy being along for the ride.

Crawford’s opposite number is Martin Samuels (Chris Langham), the dour, nervous director putting together a “fly-on-the-wall documentary” about our hero. Nothing comes easily to Martin, whether it’s evading an obstreperous neighbor to interview Crawford’s mother (who remembers the boy putting costumes on chess pieces for a performance of “South Pacific”) or talking to Crawford’s acquaintances, who more or less wish him well “being amongst his own kind in Los Angeles.”

Once on the ground in L.A., Crawford makes a fast friend in a limo driver and entrepreneur, and feels immediately at home, looking at freeway signs from the car window and fondly remembering, “I knew a drag queen named Marina del Rey.” He especially likes his lodgings in the posh Century Plaza Hotel, but that’s where his problems begin.

A dispute about his bill leads Crawford to Monique Geingold (Mary McCormack), head of WIHF, the World International Hairdressing Federation. It turns out there’s been “a wee misunderstanding.” Crawford has not been invited to actually compete with international clipping stars like the pompous Beverly Hills Norwegian Stig Ludwiggssen (David Rasche); he’s been invited to be part of the audience.

Determined not to have flown 7,000 miles without getting a chance to demonstrate his art, Crawford won’t be denied his shot, even if it means facing daunting odds to get his official membership card in the all-powerful Hairdressers of America Guild, HAG for short.

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In fact, it’s remarkable how many amusing obstacles “The Big Tease” places in Crawford’s way. He not only has to learn to schmooze, he has to figure out what the word means. Fortunately, Crawford is not only a genius with hair, he also ends up with the help of Candy Harper (Frances Fisher), one of the most powerful publicists in Hollywood. And anyone who really knows the business knows it’s the publicists who truly manage everything.

Like “Strictly Ballroom,” “The Big Tease” takes a real competition (believe it or not, hairdressing contests like the Platinum Scissors do exist) and runs with it. The film also knows its Hollywood territory, from people in animal suits who insist on being called actors to a hotel manager proud of not having had a drink “in over five days.”

Directed by Briton Kevin Allen (“Twin Town”) with just the right light touch, this unpretentious film strikes a blow for “the little people,” who, as Crawford well knows, “usually get squashed by the big people.” This time around, they’ve got a fighting chance.

* MPAA rating: R, for language. Times guidelines: an overall tone of unmistakable sweetness.

‘The Big Tease’

Craig Ferguson: Crawford Mackenzie

Frances Fisher: Candy Harper

Mary McCormack: Monique Geingold

David Rasche: Stig Ludwiggssen

Chris Langham: Martin Samuels

A Crawford P. Inc. production released by Warner Bros. Director Kevin Allen. Producer Philip Rose. Executive producers Sacha Gervasi, Craig Ferguson, Kevin Allen. Screenplay Sacha Gervasi & Craig Ferguson. Cinematographer Seamus McGarvey. Editor Chris Peppe. Costumes Julie Millere-Bennett. Music Mark Thomas. Production design Joseph Hodges. Art director Mark A. Thomson. Set decorator Cloudia. Running time: 1 hour, 28 minutes.

In limited release.