Coming out of the same studio that gave us RuPaul's Drag Race, and stacked with a whole crew of former contestants, Stop! That! Train! plays like RuPaul basically taking a bow for the entire franchise she's built. It's not really a gay film in the traditional sense, but with so many drag stars from Ru's shows popping up alongside a few cameos from well known out gay actors, I figured it earns a spot on this blog anyway. The whole thing is completely over the top, packed with GenZ slang, loud flashy visuals, and humor that's constantly winking at you knowing how ridiculous it is. Going in you'd assume it's meant to be a laugh riot, and a lot of critics online seem to be eating it up, but I just couldn't get into it at all. I've never really been someone who vibes with campy silly stuff like this, so honestly my reaction doesn't surprise me one bit. The setup follows Tess and DeeDee, two low level stewardesses who sneak onto the fancy Glamazonian E...
Baby Maybe
Fong and Fang are a gay couple together for eight years. Even after the same-sex marriage has been legalized in Taiwan, Fong, his family’s only son, still cannot accept Fang’s proposal. Fong is also being pressured to have offspring, and he actually wants to have a child of his own. Fong’s student, Sayuri, happens to be pregnant at this very moment and seeks help from Fong to get an abortion, but Fong comes up with a different plan… Will everything work out for Fong?
Li Hua, a drag show manager in Japan, gets a call from Taiwan telling her father has just passed away. After 30 years abroad, she goes back home, where she thought she would never return. But it is not only about the inheritance but also about the old flame she left behind: her sister-in-law. When they meet again, the intense attraction they felt for each other reappears instantly. Li Hua wants to make up for all the lost time, but how can they be together?
Hsuan is a professional swimmer insecure about his “size” since he was young. He is unable to land a boyfriend because of this, and getting laid is completely out of the question. During a race, his swimsuit comes off, and his small secret is exposed to everyone there. After a month in isolation, Hsuan is encouraged by a friend to go back to the pool again. He then runs into his junior classmate, Fong, who he had a crush on. Will he overcome his shame and finally find love?
Hsiang, a comedian, suddenly gets a call from her daughter Ling who she has not seen for the past ten years. Ling is now 18 and unexpectedly pregnant. She comes to Taipei to ask her father for shelter. But Ling has no idea that Hsiang is now a she, while Hsiang is still transitioning and living with her boyfriend. Fearing that Ling finds out, Hsiang wants her boyfriend to pretend to be her, while she will play the girlfriend role. How will Hsiang get along with Ling?
FeiFei, a married writer that has just released a best-selling novel, starts an affair with her publisher AiKi. As FeiFei becomes more and more infatuated with AiKi, she starts to wonder whether she is lesbian or bisexual. Meanwhile her husband's writing career is not going so well and he is also not aware that this best seller has been written by his wife. The publisher tells him the truth and they both end up in bed. With wife now seeing them together, will they be a throuple?
I think this is a very interesting concept. 5 short films of 12-15 minutes of running time and they all have open endings. It is left to the viewer to decide what should happen to that the characters can find their happiness. After the 3 seasons of HIStory helped Taiwan to legislate for gay marriage, these 5 shorts with "choose the happy ending" will hopefully educate people out there. (6//10)
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