This low-key, low-budget portrait of an odd-couple friendship takes a while to get going, and never fully hits its stride – though it has its moments. Director Hugo André plays chef turned food blogger Sacha, a fastidious Frenchman living in London who rents a room in a house. His new landlord and flatmate is city banker Dan (Will Masheter), who seems to slot neatly into the stereotype of macho finance bro. But Dan turns out to have a secret life, dressing up in glittery glam frocks and feather boas, transforming into alter ego Danielle.

A friendship of sorts develops between the two men, throwing up a couple of nice scenes. When Dan cooks soup, picky gourmand Sacha looks appalled in the way that only a Frenchman can at the claggy dollop of peanut butter slopped into his bowl. There’s a real sweetness, too, in Masheter’s performance as Dan begins to live more openly, tiptoeing into the world of cabaret – and, if nothing else, watching his self-expression blossom is a reminder of how sinister the anti-drag laws are that are currently sweeping the US.

Elsewhere, some of the acting feels a bit broad and the film has some clumsy moments. The movie deals unconvincingly with a disciplinary procedure at Dan’s banking firm, where his line manager takes action that I’m certain no city boss would dare to, fearing an expensive lawsuit or bad publicity. Like a lot here, it feels distractingly a bit off and not quite real – or maybe just not thought through properly.

• Makeup is released on 26 June on digital platforms.