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...
Ben and Jordan, twenty something, have been close friends since childhood. Ben has sold away all his belongings to begin his New York era and is staying with. Friend and his wife. Jordan joins Ben on a trip to New York to see his friend off, and spend some time in the big city. And as they assuredly know, New York can be ridiculously expensive. Ben is a Gen-z gay squatter who tries to sleep with the friend he is staying with which does not go well and they ask him to leave. Finding themselves suddenly homeless, Ben has no option but to return to Austin with Jordan. Jordan's girlfriend is not too happy about this, especially since Jordan has not paid his share of rent for. A few months and cracks are already starting to appear leading g to their breakup. Although Jordan’s anxiety nearly leads him to kill himself, Ben turns to Grindr to take his mind off things and while the two process the gaping hole in their lives in completely different ways, they have only each other to lean on. Ben comes up with a plan that they should try to stay rent free at their various friends places and save money and eventually move back to New York. Thus begin the trust where Ben doesn't feel shy asking for favors from friends to squat at their place for as long as they possibly can. For one reason or another they have to keep moving from one place to other. The houses include a house with 4-5 party people, an ex’s shared apartment, a lesbian couple, at least one of Ben’s Grindr hookups, and more. They even end up at Ben's father's home with his two other brothers. At one such place even Jordan ends up sleeping with a guy for the first time. This nomadic existence finally starts to put strain in their friendship transforming them into a married bickering couple.
It is an interesting film where you see how the free spirited Ben finds it super easy to ask friends for favors but also showing as if he is doing them a favor. And since neither of them is making any money, problems start to appear. They try odd jobs but nothing works out. Ben finds respite in random hookups while Jordan still tries to pursue his passion for photography. One apartment where they stay with this gay couple was quite interesting. The film’s easy way with sex and sexuality allows the characters to be equal parts horny and clumsy in a believably frank way. The duo fight, argue but always get back together. It’s an interesting look at the power of friendship in this tough, gig economy. Both actors do a commendable job but Ben as an immature jerk stands out between the two. This is a situational comedy at its heart, but its ability to double as both a quiet indictment on capitalism and a mourning for quality-of-life amongst a younger generation will undoubtedly speak to many of its viewers. (5.5/10)
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