As a film, its style is very unidentifiable with Iranian cinema, and especially conventional perception of Iran from an arthouse audience point of view. This is particularly true in the photography and more specifically in the chosen setting, that is quite exotic and almost blatantly Americanised. The moments when the film surprises the most are the moments that are characterised by abrupt and unexpected changes in tone and mood, from humorous to dramatic. After all, these are eccentric characters that all seem to be troubled in one way or another, and it is almost surreal to see that their afflictions are treated with an unforseeable kind of respect. The gang of crooks is headed by an unlikely overweight and quite ignorant Don Juan, whose selfishness knows no bounds. He seems to look after his very own interests constantly, whether it is with a woman whom he collaborates with on the road to the customer and whom he convinces to be in love with. Or whether it is an old man who is attempting to cure his own drug addiction and impending fear of loneliness - attempts that are severly threatened by his scum bucket's travel comrade's own problems with addiction.
There are of course several problems with the film. One is that the plot is far too contorted to follow with any degree of interest. A film that should primarily aim to entertain is almost totally mind numbing with its chaotic storyline, one that involves a man with some type of condition that makes him a living electrical livewire. But it's all much too futile to follow, rather carelessly paced and overall awkward.
What lets the film down even more, however, is the fact that quite naturally the film is not very likely to be understood by an international audience. The humour is simply lost in translation. It is to be understood that this type of film is produced in many countries of the world, and rightfully many of these meet their success within their domestic borders. Much of their appeal is lost abroad. Hard Makeup is no different, and because of this much of the power is lost and a further drawback makes the other imperfections of the film show even more prominently.
