What happens when you take SHAOLIN SOCCER and replace it with homosexuals, transvestites, and volleyball? You get IRON LADIES, an off-the-wall but feel-good comedy from Thailand.

The gem of the film is in the characters. Each actor is so genuine in their acting, that they really bring the oddball cast to life. Not only that, but each character has a unique personality trait that makes them so fun to watch. When these characters interact with each, the sparks fly. Of course, there's always a sour apple in the bunch. In the case of this film, three sour apples. April, June, and May annoyed the living hell out of me. With a cast of homosexuals and transvestites, it's still possible to be SO gay it's annoying. Other than the perturbing triplets, the cast is delightful.

The story may seem predictable and trite, but it's based on a true story. During the credit sequence, be on the look out for footage of the REAL Iron Ladies. You'll be shocked and flabbergasted at the sight of the real life counterparts of these outrageous characters.

If you're looking for a film that you can pick apart and find hidden meaning behind, then IRON LADIES isn't for you. It's a completely brain-dead-guilty-pleasure film. There's no real technical achievement here, there's no fancy special effects here, there's not even an award-winning performance in here! It's just a fat wad of heart and entertainment rolled up into a wild film. You'd be lying to yourself if you said you didn't have a good time after seeing this film.

Sure, maybe you might feel less masculine when the film is over. You might even be disturbed at how feminine some of the guys look. In the end though, there's no escaping it: you had a good time with this movie. With a motley crew of characters and a fun story, IRON LADIES takes a spike shot right into our hearts (I apologize for the lame volleyball joke)!!