What's super, SUPER hot: Men in drag and bad movies based on cartoons
By Steve Spears, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Monday, June 22, 2009
In To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, John Leguizamo, from left, Wesley Snipes and Patrick Swayze get stranded after their car breaks down.
The largest gay celebration in Florida culminates Saturday when St. Pete Pride holds its annual street festival and promenade. And part of the true magic of any Pride celebration are the colorful men and women — often one and the same in a tight, shimmering gown — who sashay, twirl and otherwise entertain the troupes. • We know them as our lovely, luminescent drag queens, and Tampa Bay has some of the most entertaining and colorful ones in the state: Melanie Minyon, Joey Brooks and Stephanie Shippae just to name a few. • To mark the occasion, we offer up our completely subjective list of our favorite "men in drag" movies. Just try not to laugh out loud when you read it.
Compiled by Steve Spears, Times Staff Writer
Top 5 Movies With Men In Drag
1To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar (1995): Still not sure what's funnier: John Leguizamo, Wesley Snipes and Patrick Swayze, above as women. Or their characters' names ... Chi-Chi Rodriguez, Noxeema Jackson and Vida Boheme.
Favorite quote:"You look like the Miami Sound Machine just exploded all over you!"
2The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Dessert (1994): Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce and Terence Stamp travel the Australian outback until their beloved bus (Priscilla) breaks down. One of the best sound tracks in drag queen history with the Village People, Gloria Gaynor and Charlene.
Favorite line:"I've said it before, and I'll say it again: 'No more f---ing ABBA!' "
3The Birdcage (1996): Please forgive us for choosing the remake over the original 1978 flick La Cage aux Folles. All credit goes to Nathan Lane as Mrs. Goldman, Robin Williams' improv dance lesson and Hank Azaria as Agador.
Favorite line:"I pierced the toast!"
4Tootsie (1982): Dustin Hoffman is tough and lovable as soap star Dorothy Michaels but we wish he'd drop the phoney Southern accent.
Favorite line: "This is our first date, I just want to look pretty for her."
5Some Like It Hot (1959): Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, left, do some old-school cross-dressing. Are we weird if we think they look hotter than co-star Marilyn Monroe?
Favorite line: "Oh, you don't understand, Osgood! Ehhhh ... I'm a man." ... "Well, nobody's perfect."
Stick with drawing cartoons
Transformers: Revenge of the Fall is set to hit theaters on Wednesday. The sequel reunites super "It" actors Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox as human bystanders dragged into the robotic war between the Autobots and the Decepticons.
If the sequel is anything like 2007's Transformers, which grossed more than $700 million, expect Hollywood execs and theater owners to be gleefully rolling around in swimming pools filled with dollar bills before the weekend is over.
But not every cartoon makes for a live-action success story. Here are five that we think woefully missed the mark.
Top 5 Worst Movies Based On Cartoons:
1. The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle (2000): Our question for Jason Alexander: Did you already spend all the Seinfeld checks or what?
2. Inspector Gadget (1999): Two words for star Matthew Broderick: Save Ferris!
3. The Flintstones (below) (1994): John Goodman as Fred and Rick Moranis as Barney? Willllma!
4. Underdog (2007): This Jason Lee/James Belushi mutt should have been neutered.
5. The Masters of the Universe (1987): Not even the power of Greyskull could save Dolph Lundgren, who still must consider Rocky IV his career highlight, in this epic trash.
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