For sheer exuberance and rollicking fun, Connie And Carla is hard to resist. Written by and starring Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), this is a gender-reversed Some Like It Hot set against the colourful backdrop of the Los Angeles gay scene.

Chicago singers Connie (Vardalos) and Carla (Collette) work in the departure lounge of the city's airport, entertaining passengers with a medley of show tunes from Oklahoma!, Jesus Christ Superstar and Cats among others.

The audiences may not be overly enthusiastic but the two friends fizz with energy, certain that fame and fortune are just over the horizon.

After their final performance one night, the gal pals witness gangster Rudy and his henchman Tibor killing their boss Frank, who has stolen a small fortune in cocaine.

Fearing for their lives as sole witnesses to the murder, Connie and Carla flee Chicago and head for Los Angeles, where they pose as drag queens in the run-down Handlebar club.

Amazingly, the girls' repertoire of show tunes goes down a storm with the gay clientele and Connie and Carla become two of the most glittering belles on the club circuit.

They befriend cross-dressing barman Robert (Stephen Spinella) and a number of the other performers, who bow down at the altar of two drag queens who sing live rather than mime.

Unfortunately, the girls have to maintain their drag disguises at all times, which becomes increasingly difficult when Connie falls head over platform heels for a hunky straight guy called Jeff (Duchovny), who just happens to be Robert's estranged brother.

To make matters worse, Frank and Tibor are hot on the girls' trail and will stop at nothing to guarantee their silence. Forever.

Connie And Carla is a riot of laughs from start to finish, fuelled by the ebullience of Vardalos and Collette who embrace their drag personas with gusto. Their rendition of I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair, complete with bubble machine and white-towelled attire, is a delight.

Admittedly, some of the humour is crass and the screenplay's treatment of the gay characters as walking, talking cliches might offend some.

However, if you're willing to swallow the intentionally preposterous set-up Connie and Carla would be exposed as charlatans within minutes then it's really not too much to ask to accept a gaggle of stereotypes too.

OUT! rating: 7 out of 10

Film writer Stephen Webb reviews CONNIE AND CARLA

Starring: Toni Collette, Nia Vardalos, David Duchovny

Certificate: 12A

Director: Michael Lembeck

Running time: 97 mins

Showing at: UGC and Cineworld, Swindon