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Stop! That! Train!

By Golu
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...
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People You May Know

By Golu
A slice of life film about four friends is how this movie can be described. Even though the focus on on the members of the circle, on of our protagonists clearly gets more footage which is ok. I do not think the makers are going for any message here. I wasn't too hopeful at the beginning of the film and thought it was gonna be one more of those poorly made independent gay films, but it was slightly better than that. What happens when life throws unexpected change son our face and how we respond to that and take decisions is what essentially this film is about.

Joe, a single gay man and a writer is in his 30s. His ex and only girlfriend Delia, now married to Rodrigo have just discovered that they cannot have baby because of Rodrigo being sterile, and who happens to go to Spain for few months for work right after this. And finally we have Herbert, a nerdy gay man, who has given up hopes on finding love. One drunken night of partying Joe ends up sleeping with Delia who ends up getting pregnant. Meanwhile, while this is going on, Joe has a secret internet lover, who he is facing over but surprisingly has never seen or met. He just sees his pictures and talks to him on phone. When Delia's pregnancy news is revealed Rodrigo is mad and decides to leave her. Initially angry and confused, Joe eventually gives in and decides to support Delia in having the baby. Herbert, meanwhile, meets a young man in the park and sparks fly and a cute romance between them blossom which gets tested when he gets promoted but has tome to a different town. Back to Joe, he soon finds out that his internet lover was cat fishing him. He tracks down the impersonate guy online and a strange friendship between the two develop.

The film, like I said before, is a little all over the place. Just when you think that this is going to be a drama around a woman accidentally getting pregnant with her gay friend who is her husband's best friend, midway, it totally abandons that subject and goes to focus on Joe's internet lover and their weird twisted fantasy and love. That section was also interesting but the two topics just felt too disjointed. And then the whole Herbert story also stood on its own and didn't really fit well in the film as an overall. This film is like three different stories with same people and in the process none of them get the attention it deserved. Herbert gets the worst treatment, whose love story could have been a very cute one but is sidelined for other priorities. Having said that, there is enough to admire too. The actors do a decent job and shared alright chemistry. And of course there is a happy ending for everyone involved. This is essentially a refreshing and easy-going, slice of life, feel-good dramedy, where you feel like you are watching different chapters of the life of a group of friends. (5.5/10)
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Sailor Maan said…
From my memories it was ok, reading your review sums up what I remember from it. A cute out of place (and not totally believable) side couple, a steamy sex scene (esp the music), and a messy but interesting rest. I also have very bad memories of the girlfriend as being totally selfish. "Hey I was drunk, cheated on my husband with my gay friend and got pregnant, but then I do wathever I want with it regarless of my husband and friend because I'm a strong woman and I don't owe anything to anyone" cliche hello. Sorry maybe it was different but that's really how I remember it (back when I was looking for how to have a kid, this kind of cliche was the worst for me).
February 7, 2022 at 4:33 AM
Golu said…
oh no no!! u r absolutely right. That was a bit selfish of her for sure.
for her, it was about I and me and myself
February 7, 2022 at 8:36 AM
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