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...
Detective Bussi is Iceland’s most famous and toughest cop in leather jacket with glasses bashing bad guys. He is trigger-happy, he is a brat, always angry and he has no respect for the rules. He’s a loose cannon but he gets results. Enter Hörður. He is the cop from neighboring town, very tough, a dapper, muscular, pansexual former model. There have been a series of bank robberies and no money stolen and police is perplexed. Man behind these robberies is Rikki, who it turns out used to model with Hoarder but quit after an accident. The police department makes the two tough cops buddy up and on their fist night, they get drunk and make out. Hoarder is secretly gay and his outbursts and angry demeanor is likely form the fear of coming out, whereas Hoarder keeps his heart on sleeve. Now Rikki has an evil plan involving a computer virus, the city bank’s gold bars and a bomb at the big women’s football match between Iceland and England. He also manages to photograph the two cops while having sex and blackmails Bussi, who gets drunk and quits the job. But on the day of the match, he realizes his duties and buddies up with Hörður and destroys the whole plan while also openly admitting his love for Hörður. The film ends with the two living happily together.
The film is full of cliches but this spoof comedy works somehow. There are the two detectives that have to work together despite their enormous differences. The angry commissioner. The scenery-chewing supervillain who only speaks English. There are car chases, gunfights, standoffs, bomb scares, gold, robberies. But whilst the film is stupid fun, it is also a film about acceptance and sexuality. Cop Secret is a pun on ‘Top Secret’, but it is also literal – it’s about a cop with a secret. Specifically, the closeted Bussi and his secret admiration for Hörður. Bussi is an alcoholic gambler and alcoholic. His apartment is messy, and his girlfriend is getting worried at their increasing distance. By contrast, the suit-wearing Hörður is way more sophisticated and secure in his sexuality. However, as the old saying goes, opposites attract. As the film progresses, Bussi realizes he doesn’t need to hide behind his masculinity or old-school methods. This is a complex film about not being ashamed of who you are. The actors do a fantastic job. Do not expect a proper polished film either in terms of story of special effects or logic. But even though it isn’t perfect, it is effortlessly funny and consistently entertaining. The action is well-filmed, the script is always aware of the joke. And in the end, it’s two manly cops being manly and confident in their homosexuality, which is wonderful to see. I had fun watching the film. (6/10)
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