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 story follows Phuc, who moves from Hanoi to Saigon to open his dream bar and live with his girlfriend. Things go sideways immediately when he arrives a day early to surprise her and catches her cheating, so he breaks up with her and leaves. He ends up reaching out to his old childhood neighbors, Cong and his sister Han, who he hasn't seen in years. The siblings are struggling on their own with a massive debt and Han’s poor health. Han thinks her brother works at a convenience store, but Cong is actually a heavy for a criminal group, using muscle to collect debts. When Phuc first shows up, there’s some old tension because Cong used to be jealous of how smart and successful Phuc was back in the day. However, after Phuc moves in nearby and they start hanging out, they begin to bond again. Cong comes out as gay and starts messing with Phuc by flirting just to see him get flustered, which happens every single time. Meanwhile, the cheating girlfriend crawls back asking for forgiveness just around when Phuc finally gets his bar open. A shady client offers Cong a huge payday to ruin Phuc’s business and force him into bankruptcy, which would solve Cong's money problems, but he refuses to betray his friend. Both Cong and the girlfriend end up competing for Phuc's attention, but Phuc eventually realizes it's Cong he loves. The person trying to shut down the bar is eventually revealed—though it isn't a huge shock—and the two guys finally confess their feelings and share a big kiss at the end.
The production value is pretty average and definitely isn't polished, but honestly, that makes it feel more real and easier to get into. Even though it's packed with clichés like the toxic ex-girlfriend and the gay guy falling for his straight best friend, the chemistry between the leads just works. I really liked how different the two guys are; Phuc is a total dreamer and a romantic, while Cong is a practical tough guy who is super comfortable with being gay and won't hesitate to punch a homophobe. Their scenes together are the best part, especially when Cong is teasing him. They bicker and joke around, and they actually build a real friendship before anything romantic happens. It really isn't until the last two episodes that things turn into a romance. The actor playing Cong is definitely the star of the show. He’s handsome, has a great cheeky energy, and just has a natural confidence that makes you want to watch him. The guy playing Phuc does a good job too, especially at showing a softer, more wounded side. The girlfriend character is a bit of a "trophy" villain and felt way too pushy—I honestly don't know why Phuc even gave her the time of day after she cheated. Even though some of the character growth feels a bit thin, the show makes up for it in the finale when they promise to stay together despite being from totally different worlds.
It's a solid, cozy watch that succeeds because of the natural charm of its leads, even if it sticks to a very familiar script. (6.5/10)
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