To Wong Foo, Thank For Everything! Julie Newmar (1995)

A full tank of gas, great friends, and a larger-than-life destination: the recipe for the perfect road trip.

Screenshot from trailer

Bumps in the open road are to be expected to some extent, but the three drag queens in To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar have a few more bumps than their fair share. Nothing goes as planned, and the cross-country adventure takes a few unexpected turns, leading to some unexpected destinations.

Screenshot from trailer

Despite the bumps, our characters prevail, as does the film, which stars three dreamy actors as Noxima, Vida, and Chi-Chi (Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, and John Leguizamo).  Each of these actors are known for playing highly masculine roles (EXAMPLES). This is a fantastic move on the part of casting. This polarity between the feminized roles and the masculinized fame creates opportunity for a powerful commentary on gender expression. Men known for their masculinity are playing characters dressed in drag for a film that embraces gender diversity and fluidity.  What better way to put the concept of gender norms into question? Their masculine fame opens up opportunity for those who would not normally venture to see this film to do so, reaching an unlikely audience, and allowing the male viewers to put themselves in these women's shoes. We are endeared to these three characters not just because of their character, but because of the real person we see portraying them.

Screenshot from trailer

The film sheds light on gender violence of varies kinds--from a cop harassing the three women to a husband who beats his wife.  Not only do we witness our three protagonists receive push back on their line-crossing of gender norms as men dressed as women, but we witness how they are endangered simply by being women. The film confronts the issue unabashedly, and it is better for it.

To Wong Foo shows a small, rural town in the Midwest opening up its community to three gender-bending drag queens. They are the winners, united with the unlikely allies of the townspeople, while the cruel cop who has made it his goal to wreck havoc on their lives is shown to be an absolute idiot. By the end of the film, the whole town has come together in celebration, with every individual claiming that they are a drag queen--that they will stand by their friends, that they are on their team. The push back against homosexuality is shown to be utterly absurd.

Screenshot from trailer

One thing I do not understand is why they included the basketball and hotel scenes. I'm sure it was somebody's "baby", but it had nothing to do with the rest of the film and should have been cut.

Watch the trailer here