STOP! THAT! TRAIN!

'Stop! That! Train!' is as stupid as one could have hoped for; it's the dumb silliness you love from the 'Drag Race' franchise on the big screen. Like the show, not every joke lands, but the ones that do really hit. Queens Jujubee and Latrice Royale are the MVQ (Most Valuable Queens) of the film, they light up the screen every time they on screen. RuPaul is the Queen of Drag for a reason, and she uses her star power to the fullest potential. When she is on screen, she is chewing up the scenery in the best way possible. The references to the show are done quite tastefully and sparingly. There are two moments that are direct quotes from 'Drag Race' that made me feel like when Captain America says "Avengers assemble"; it was pure gay joy.

The biggest gripe, like the show itself, is the use of AI. The filmmakers originally denied any use of it, then backtracked and said yes, AI is utilised in the film. It's incredibly disappointing that AI is used. AI in any creative media is disgusting, but it's even more disheartening when a queer film, a film led by drag queens, relies on it. Queer films, especially in the mainstream theatrical landscape, are lacking, so for one to finally release, have this much star power and then use AI for shots of the train is so unsavoury. The film opens with archive footage of trains throughout time, including toy trains. It's a really funny opening, and I feel the film could have tapped into that more instead of being lazy and using AI for something as simple as CGI train shots. Bad CGI train would have fit the film's stupid comedic tone, and there was absolutely no reason for it to lean on AI. RuPaul, for your AI crimes, once again, you will have to lip sync for your life!

On comedy front there is a lot that doesn't land, in particular scenes with Jesse Tyler Ferguson ('A Very Jonas Christmas Movie', 'Cocaine Bear') and a pregnant Mayan Lopez and a reoccurring bit with Missi-Pyle">Missi-Pyle ('Ma', 'Nobody's Fool') that where just plan unfunny. There are a lot of cameos like Lisa Rinna that are pointless, and the joke is just "isn't funny they are here", and Michelle Visage, a judge from 'Drag Race', was just a waste of a cameo. They also felt like there was a lot of missed opportunities to include more Drag Queens from the show and they instead went with a celebrity. A film set in the 'Drag Race' universe should have leaned more into the Drag Queen aspect of that. There are a lot of gags that start out strong but either go nowhere or just don't stick the landing; there are heaps of moments that had me gagging out loud, but then there are also a lot of moments that just weren't giving.

When 'Stop! That! Train' is funny, she is funny, but from AI use (escàndalo!) to wasted cameos, it doesn't completely pull this off. They make it work, and if you're even a casual fan, you'll get some laughs out of it. It is a treat to see drag queens shine on the big screen, but I hope the next time we see them it's more of a roaring success and without any AI!