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Stop! That! Train!

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...

Madagascar Skin (UK)

Never underestimate the capacity of opposites to attract. This is the sort of message that the makers are trying to give in this film. Consisting of just two lead actors, this film takes art film to another level. You have to be really really really patient to get through this one.

Harry is a young gay man, prowling gay bars and London streets but somehow doesn't fit there. He has a huge birthmark on his face in the shape of Madagascar. He flees from there and seats himself at a beach living in some abandoned car. By pure. Luck he meets an older man Flint, whom he discovered on the beach, who is neck deep buried in the sand. Flint takes Harry to an abandoned shack where Harry nurses Flint back to health and the two slowly become acquainted. As Flint fantasizes aloud about a woman in a bikini, Harry has his own sexual daydreams about his companion. And Brandon events happen which make absolutely no sense, until, one night, out of the blue, Flint makes a sexual proposition to Harry. And by the end of the film, the two men are jubilant lovers hopping up and down with glee as they bundle together inside a single sweater. 

The film has a whole lot of nothing to it. A gay amen mets an older straight man and the two hate the world and find love with one another. Its just bizarre, to be honest. Harry is self-pitying while Flint is jubilant guy. I am not sure if the point was you can find love in the most unlikeliest of places with unlikeliest of people. Because that sure does happen in this film, even though I couldn't care less for the characters. The only scene worth mentioning is when Harry goes on and on about how he hates good looking young people. I am not sure how and why this film got so much good press (probably because of two strong lead actors), but this was just not my idea of a good romantic gay love story. I will have to strongly pass on this one. (2/10)

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