To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		2.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.0

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 5, 2019

While we live in the age of “Drag Race” and other programs that examine (and occasionally celebrate) the world of drag queen culture, perhaps it’s hard to imagine that 24 years ago, a film like “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar” was considered a major risk for Hollywood. While 1994’s “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” managed to find business across the globe, the concept of putting major action stars in a road movie about helpful drag queens wasn’t something the studios were rushing to make. Steven Spielberg and his Amblin Entertainment provided support for the project, giving Douglas Carter Beane’s screenplay a chance to be realized without being watered down, while director Beeban Kidron provides production leadership, hoping to preserve elements and messages Beane works hard to communicate. However, while an appealing picture with a big heart, the core appeal of “To Wong Foo” are the actors, with Patrick Swayze and Wesley Snipes providing pure commitment to their parts, while John Leguizamo contributes the right kind of sass to sell the visual of three fabulous girls experiencing the challenge of a lifetime during a stay in small-town America.

Securing a tie in the “Drag Queen of the Year” contest, Noxeema Jackson (Wesley Snipes) and Vida Boheme (Patrick Swayze) are eager to travel from New York City to Los Angeles for the next round of competition. Taking pity on a young runner-up, Chi-Chi Rodriguez (John Leguizamo), Noxeema and Vida decide to buy a car for a cross-country drive, intending to turn a “drag princess” into proper royalty. Hitting the road, the three ladies experience the wide open spaces of America, but soon run into car troubles in the middle of nowhere. Adding to the headache is Sheriff Dollard (Chris Penn), a racist, homophobic cop who tries to assault Vida, getting knocked out for his efforts. Finding their way to a nearby town for auto repairs, the visitors learn they have a few days to fill, using the time to mingle with the locals, who don’t understand the drag queen lifestyle. Deciding to use their magic to spruce up decorations and the women, Noxeema, Vida, and Chi-Chi make a large impression on the community, while Dollard begins his hunt for trio.

The premise of drag queens vs middle America seems like an easy lay-up for most screenwriters, but Beane works with the simplicity of the story, concentrating on character development to help define the participants in this journey. Drag culture is there from the get-go (including a cameo from RuPaul as the Confederate-flag-dress-wearing competition emcee, Rachel Tensions -- perhaps the greatest drag name of all time), making sure authenticity and attitude are secured before the tale takes to the road, with Vida and Noxeema hoping to teach Chi-Chi a thing or two about presence and patience when it comes to the lifestyle. Road movie shenanigans ensue, but Kidron doesn’t go wacky with “To Wong Foo,” electing to embrace camp and the dichotomy of ornately made-up and costumed queens in “flyover country,” with the threesome eventually stuck in a tiny town that doesn’t exactly know how to engage with such flamboyant visitors. Beane doesn’t write a sitcom, and Kidron tries to keep it all as human as possible, saving space for a few wonderful moments of madcap energy, including a delightful cameo from Robin Williams, playing facilitator John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt.

The idea driving “To Wong Foo” is empowerment, with the drag queens using their glamourous appeal to win over the females in town, who’ve been stuck in a rural coma for far too long. Vida makes a special connection to Carol Ann (Stockard Channing), who’s being abused by her husband (Arliss Howard), and while the severity of domestic assault isn’t touched, there’s sweetness in Vida’s protective measures. More joyful moments emerge with fashion lessons and giddiness over the discovery of clothing from the 1960s, giving the ladies a chance to express themselves. Cattiness comes from Chi-Chi’s combustible relationship with her guardians, offering youthful snap as she defies orders and beguiles a local man (Jason London). Beane gives something to everybody in the screenplay, keeping the feature active and amusing, though less appealing is the Dollard subplot, which is the only real element of “To Wong Foo” that feels forced, intended to bring tension and a ticking clock to a film that doesn’t need it.

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers a much older scan of "To Wong Foo" for its Blu-ray debut. The viewing experience is soft, with filtering present, resulting in some haloing at times. Detail isn't strong, struggling to provide a clear view of facial surfaces and makeup achievements, and while costuming is open for survey, but not as textured as hoped for. Small town vistas are somewhat blurry, losing distances. Colors are adequate, dealing with an explosive palette filled with bright primaries and more fashionable hues. Skintones are on the bloodless side. Delineation isn't ideal, but crush is rare. Source is in fine condition, without damage.

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix is also on the fatigued side, but the essentials of the listening event are present. Dialogue exchanges are secure, with clear articulation and emotional range. Scoring is acceptable, offering support with decent instrumentation. Pop songs are more pronounced, keeping the '90s beat with electronic percussion. Surrounds aren't very active, used to open up soundtrack selections and explore a few open world atmospherics. Low-end is modest at best.

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Easy Rider in Dresses" (51:34, HD) is a making-of for "To Wong Foo," featuring interviews with screenwriter Douglas Carter Beane, director Beeban Kidron, and actor John Leguizamo. While the three examine the simplicity of the story, Beane goes into the project's origins, with RuPaul's "Supermodel" video inspiring a tale of comedy and empowerment. Steven Spielberg eventually won the rights to make the movie, with Beane describing his feelings during this time, where he found the title, and how he aimed to create a picture about "feminism in the guise of a gay film." Kidron examines her determination to secure the mainstream appeal of the material, and her struggles with casting, detailing focus from the three leads as they attempted to conjure drag queen appeal. Most interesting is Leguizamo's recollections of Swayze, with the pair's disparate acting styles inspiring mid-shoot fisticuffs, though Leguizamo swears the actors reconnected by the end of production. Technical achievements are celebrated, highlighting hair, makeup, and costuming, and Kidron charts her pregnancy during filming, with Spielberg set to take over direction if she went into labor. Audience reaction and the effort's inspiration close the featurette.

• Deleted Scenes (15:04, SD) include some more restaurant augments, used car lot antics, auto failure on a steep mountain road, plenty of small town interactions with the locals, an extended goodbye, and the original ending of "To Wong Foo."

• T.V. Spot (:33, SD) offers one commercial for "To Wong Foo."

• VHS Promo (2:31, SD) attempts to sell video store owners on the popularity of the picture, and the importance of displaying a colorful standee in their shops.

• Soundtrack Ad (:33, SD) is presented.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:12, SD) is included.

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"To Wong Foo" doesn't get caught up in melodrama, with Kidron wisely maintaining attention on her three stars (the supporting cast is great too). It's immense fun to watch Swayze and Snipes transform themselves into drag queens, finding their voices and posture as glamourous women. Leguizamo seems born for the part, making Chi-Chi a curious creation and a habitual instigator, with the character adding all the troublemaking the feature needs. These talents could've easily embarrassed themselves, but they take the job seriously, making sure humans are tended to first before camp is celebrated. Their dedication makes all the difference in the world, elevating "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar," allowing it to be about people instead of a casting gimmick.