Pretty Red Dress 2023

Candice eagerly awaits the release of her partner, Travis, from prison, where he has spent a year for undisclosed reasons. As the two embark on their drive home, a phone call interrupts their reunion; Candice receives exciting news from her agent about an audition for a role portraying the iconic Tina Turner in an upcoming musical. However, the mood shifts as she reveals that their teenage daughter, Kenisha, is facing serious trouble at school, with threats of expulsion looming due to her troublesome behavior.

Once home, Travis reconnects with his older brother Clive and their circle of friends, who all have different plans for him. While Clive presents a straightforward opportunity to work in his restaurant, others suggest ventures that hint at his past life choices, which Travis wisely decides to decline.

In the midst of preparing for Candice’s audition, the couple spots a stunning red dress in a shop window, instantly captivated by its beauty. However, when they discover the exorbitant price of £279, they find themselves in a predicament as they can’t afford it. Thankfully, the shopkeeper is willing to hold the dress for 24 hours, giving them a glimmer of hope. Shortly after, Clive informs Travis that the original job he offered is no longer available, but a role as a kitchen porter is open. Accepting this role, Travis manages to buy the dress, which Candice wears for her audition, receiving flattering comments that push her one step closer to the part.

However, the whimsical allure of the dress begins to consume Travis. He tests it out for himself, applying lipstick in a playful attempt to understand what his partner experiences. Unfortunately, this playful moment takes a turn when their daughter Kenisha appears unexpectedly, catching Travis off-guard. Despite his quick attempt to dispose of the dress, he does not manage to wipe away the telltale lipstick that betrays what he just did. The next time he wears the dress is met with Candice’s surprise return, and the moment escalates as she captures a photo, leading him to try desperately to snatch the phone away from her grasp to remove any evidence.

In a series of unfortunate events, Travis inadvertently damages the dress right before Candice’s audition is set to take place, and with no immediate repair options available, he devises a plan to blame their daughter for the accident. To complicate matters further, Clive catches a glimpse of Travis wearing women’s underwear, catapulting their family dynamic into a series of challenging discussions about identity and acceptance. Their daughter, faced with peer scrutiny, begins to feel the pressure of having a father who enjoys women’s clothing. This stigma reaches a boiling point when Kenisha finds herself under fire at school, being teased for her father’s cross-dressing. Following an altercation, she is sent home, and tensions rise between her parents.

Candice holds Travis responsible for Kenisha’s plight and decides that it’s best for him to leave the family home altogether, insisting that he take the dress with him. However, Travis finds a sense of freedom in a park, donning the dress once more to explore another side of himself. His exploration, unfortunately, leads to confrontation when four men violently attack him.

In a vulnerable moment at a meeting with school officials, Travis opens up about his cross-dressing, tearfully acknowledging the impact it has had on his family’s dynamics. He takes full responsibility for Kenisha’s issues, vowing to amend things. Ultimately, Kenisha is granted a final chance to redeem herself, and despite Candice’s disappointment in not landing the audition, she takes charge of her own aspirations by forming a Tina Turner cover band.

In a heartwarming turn of events, as healing occurs within their family, love blossoms once more. Travis proposes to Candice, who joyfully accepts, marking a new beginning forged through trials, understanding, and renewed love.