Does Stop! That! Train! get cute? Or is it drop dead gorgeous.
On June 12, Stop! That! Train! became the first film from the RuPaul’s Drag Race universe to hit theatres across North America. The action-comedy-disaster film was highly anticipated by fans of the cult-classic reality competition television series, myself included. I walked out of the theatre still laughing at the Queen’s jokes and thought about the film’s zinging one liners for the rest of the day.
As a long-time fan of the show, I wondered if the feature film would be as good as its promotions were or if it would end up feeling like a “Drag Race” acting challenge that has run on too long. While sitting in the theatre at a matinee screening, I realized it was sure to be a success.
Stop! That! Train! had all the foundations to create something that would gag its audience. Directed by Hairspray’s Adam Shankman and chock-full of past Drag Race competitors and celebrity cameos, Stop! That! Train! is set to become a time capsule of 2020s queer culture.
The movie follows budget train stewardesses, DeeDee and Tess, played by RuPaul’s Drag Race alums, Jujubee and Ginger Minj respectively, as they work their first shifts on the Glamazonian Express, which boasts “opulence, excess, and hot people.”
Whilst aboard the high-speed train, DeeDee and Tess navigate working with elitist stewardesses, eclectic passengers, and even finding love, all while driving through a fictitious natural disaster, dubbed a stormaganza, that threatens everyone aboard the Glamazonian Express.
Throughout the screening, it was clear how well the creators of the film knew their audience. Instead of expanding viewership by generalizing humor, Stop! That! Train! retains its fanbase by focusing on 2SLGBTQIA+ centred comedy, self-referentiality, and a lack of self-seriousness, preserving quintessential aspects of the cult-classic television show.
The benefits of Stop! That! Train! preserving Drag Race’s humour allows fans to feel in on the story, often referencing gags and bits that they’ve seen on the show previously. For instance, the iconic ‘tell it to me straight, now tell it to me gay’ joke is employed a handful of times throughout the film. While the joke is played out several times, the response lines are changed, creating a piece of self-referential humour where audiences feel in on the joke.
Although Stop! That! Train! received many positive reviews from fans, there have been multiple controversies surrounding the film.
Since its release, fans have speculated online that visual effects and landscape shots seen in the film were created with generative AI. In response, Shankman took to Instagram, writing that, “there are a sum total of ZERO shots conceived by AI in the movie.” Despite Shankman’s statement, some fans are not convinced, critiquing his post’s specific wording.
User ‘gloriamoonchild’ commented under Shankman’s post, “are you able to state that ZERO generative AI was used in ANY shots in this film?” Despite further inquiries from fans, Shankman has not made any other statements on the AI use in the film.
Beyond the AI scandal, there have been controversies within the Drag Race community surrounding lead actress Minj.
The tenured contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race has been accused of lying about other queens, as well as lying about aspects of her life during her media tour after her win on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season ten. While on the Kelly Mantle Show, Minj commented on her close friendship with fellow All Stars competitor, Mistress Isabelle Brooks, which was later denied by Mistress in a YouTube video titled, “Dear Ginger Minj, Please Stop Lying,” spilling the tea only a month after the announcement of Stop! That! Train!
However, as a long-time fan of the franchise, I believe Stop! That! Train! is a hit despite the controversies. It’s fun, campy, and doesn’t take itself too seriously. I mean, how many feature films are in theatres right now with multiple choreographed dance numbers?
Stop! That! Train! has drama, humor, and Sarah Michelle Gellar, making it the perfect movie for Pride Month.
Tags
Adam Shankman, Ginger Minj, Jujubee, queer cinema, RuPaul Drag Race, Stop! That! Train!
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