The wonderful yet bizarre world of drag is a theme not often covered by Hollywood, but director, Beeban Kidion, has taken the risk and brings "men in tights" to the big screen in the film, "Too Wong Foo Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar." The recent release from Amblin entertainment, starring the multicultural cast of Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes, and John Leguizano, provides the audience with a front seat on a joyride through American society. The three drag queens begin the film on a road trip destined for Hollywood, California. The trio's plans are interrupted, however "somewhere in West Virginia", where the "glamour girls" end up in a small hickville town. During their stay, the girls unknowingly, rediscover their identities as well as the townspeople's.
The film strives to instill the ideals of acceptance and equality into American society through the use of comic relief. It addresses such issues as homophobia, low self esteem, domestic violence, and interracial relationships. The main goal of director Beeban Kidion is to illustrate people's ability to defy the ultimate stereotype.
The actors portrayal of the characters in the movie is so realistic that the audience often forgets the previous "manly" films and works of the three men. Patrick Swayze possessed the style and grace to pull off the role of a woman wearing high heels throughout the film. His experience with dance and walking instruction for women greatly aides him in performing the role of a proper drag queen. John Leguizano played the role of a drag queen as well but with a familiar Rosie Perez-like style. The men's portrayal was reflective of other films where men dressed as women for various reasons. Such films with the similar theme worth seeing once again are "Tootsie", "Mrs. Doubtfire", and the late fifties film "Some Like It Hot" starring Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, and Tony Curtis. Another film (and a plug for the films committee), is "Adventures of Priscilla, Queen Of the Desert", playing on September 24 at Fuller laboratories in Perreault Hall at 6:30 and 9:30 (admission is $2).
One more thing, in case you were wondering what the significance of the movie's title "To Wong Foo Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar" is, well, sorry you'll just have to find out for yourself. See you at the movies!
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