To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Beeban Kidron

Writer (WGA):

Douglas Carter Beane (written by)

Release Date:

8 September 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Attitude is everything.

Plot:

Three drag queens travel cross-country until their car breaks down, leaving them stranded in a small town.

Plot Keywords:

Drag | Small Town | Drag Queen | Road | Long Title

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Wesley Snipes	...	Noxeema Jackson
Patrick Swayze	...	Vida Boheme
John Leguizamo	...	Chi-Chi Rodriguez
Stockard Channing	...	Carol Ann
Blythe Danner	...	Beatrice
Arliss Howard	...	Virgil
Jason London	...	Bobby Ray
Chris Penn	...	Sheriff Dollard
Melinda Dillon	...	Merna
Beth Grant	...	Loretta
Alice Drummond	...	Clara
Marceline Hugot	...	Katina
Jennifer Milmore	...	Bobby Lee
Jamie Harrold	...	Billy Budd
Mike Hodge	...	Jimmy Joe

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for subject matter involving men living in drag, a brief scene of spousal abuse and some language.

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:14 | Denmark:16 | Finland:K-8 | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Netherlands:AL | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:T | UK:PG | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Cornwall, New York, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The title of the movie came from an autographed picture of Julie Newmar that author Douglas Carter Beane saw on the wall of a Times Square Chinese restaurant, the China Bowl, in the mid 1980s.

Goofs:

Continuity: The "girls" are settled-in and relaxing in their pajamas, lingerie, and bunny slippers. Problem is, they were not carrying any baggage when they got their lift into town. Then, while they are still dressed this way, they look out the window to see their car being towed-in.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Vida Boheme: Ready or not, here comes mama!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Wanderlust (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

To Wong Foo Suite

A lightweight romp.

The only bad thing about this film, as with most Hollywood films in which gays are depicted, is that it perpetuates the stereotype that all gays are drag queens. Still, Snipes and Swayze are fabulous, hilarious, and courageous to risk their testosterone-driven careers on such a romp. But John Leguizamo, as the drag princess, steals the show, no small feat considering the supporting cast includes Robin Williams, Stockard Channing, Blythe Danner, Melinda Dillon, Arliss Howard, and, of course, the statuesque Julie Newmar.

Much has been made of the similarity between this film and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, but each stands on its own for many reasons. Each presented superb casts in stories with obvious similarities. But oh the differences. Completely different approaches to humor, not to mention drag. Also, To Wong Foo is a more pleasant if somewhat more lightweight movie. The American audience probably had a much easier time with this one than with Priscilla.