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...
The stories exactly the same. Ando Jun is a high schooler and a closet gay. He has been having an affair with an older married man but with his friends he pretends to like girls. One day he meets a girl Miura at a book store who is buying a BL manga. He remembers her from her class. She is a fujoshi. Because of this meeting, an unlikely friendship develops between the two and Miura even confesses her love for Ando Jun, who accepts her proposal. He is in closet and also hopes that one day he wants to get married and have kids. But when he is unable to have sex with her, he realizes there is more to it. At a double date event, Ando Jun meets his older boyfriend and Miura sees them kissing. She reads furiously but the next day some to senses and in school the duo talk and Ando Jun confesses that he is gay. This is heard by a classmate who unwilling and in shock ends up revealing it to the class. Seeing sudden change in behaviour, this brings out the worst fear that Ando Jun has and he jumps out of the school window. He survives but in the process he also learns that he needs to love himself for who he is rather than wondering why he is who he is. When he is back in school, a very moving speech by Miura helps him overcome his fear and very accepting of himself as gay. Even his close friends come around (one of them was always in support). But eventually Ando Jun decides to move to a new school.
Even though with a title like this, I think the makers have told the story form the female's viewpoint; but it still remains very much a Ando Jun story and his coming out and love story. The problems with young gay men probably have face in Japanese society and the fear of being bullied if the truth comes out. To be honest, this is still a very valid issues in a lot of other countries. But going back to how the fake love story establishes between Ando Jun and Miura is fun to watch. Their interactions are cute but you also know the truth behind all of Ando's lies. The good comic relief comes from Jun's best friend, who is there of him, always, a like any true friend. I would have liked to see more of the relationship with the older married guy and how it came to being, and maybe a little more of the secret chats that Jun used to have with online stranger, but as I said, the film was probably made from the viewpoint of the love story between a gay man and a fujoshi. I did like the fact that Ando Jun comes out as a string individual, sure of his identity and purpose by the end of the film. I found the film as entertaining as the series, but I can't remember much being different between the two. If you have seen the series and still have memories of it, maybe wait few more time before you watch the film. As a standalone product it is interesting for sure and very watchable. (6.5/10)
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