TO WONG FOO, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING! JULIE NEWMAR (1995)

MORGAN'S RATING

Boys will be girls: three outrageous drag queens -- fierce Noxeema, sensitive Vida, and dreamer Chi Chi, set out from New York to Hollywood in their 1967 Cadillac convertible. In addition to their eye-popping wardrobes, the divas pack a good luck charm, an autographed photo of Julie Newmar. But when the Caddy breaks down in the mother of all hick towns, Snydersville, the trio decides to stay for the weekend. While there, the threesome (mistaken for actual women), become enmeshed in many of the citizens' problems ranging from spousal abuse to romantic heartache. But when the fetching femmes are revealed to be gay guys, how will the town react?

Wesley Snipes (Miss Noxeema Jackson), Patrick Swayze (Miss Vida Boheme (Eugene)), John Leguizamo (Miss Chi-Chi Rodriguez), Stockard Channing (Carol Ann), Blythe Danner (Beatrice), Arliss Howard (Virgil), Jason London (Bobby Ray), Chris Penn (Sheriff Dollard), Melinda Dillon (Merna), Beth Grant (Loretta), Alice Drummond (Clara), Marceline Hugot (Katina), Jennifer Milmore (Bobby Lee), Jamie Harrold (Billy Budd), Mike Hodge (Jimmy Joe), Michael Vartan (Tommy), Ru Paul (Miss Rachel Tensions), Julie Newmar (Herself), Joel Story (Little Earnest), Abie Hope Hyatt (Donna Lee), Jamie Leigh Wolbert (Sandra Lee), Shea Degan, Dean Houser, Joe Grojean (State Troopers), Keith Reddin (Motel Manager), Naomi Campbell (Herself), William P. Hopkins (Small Guy), Robin Williams (John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt, uncredited).

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING.

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

DIRECTOR: Beeban Kidron. WRITER: Douglas Carter Beane. PRODUCER: G. Mac Brown. ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Mitchelle Kohn. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Bruce Cohen and Walter F. Parkes. ORIGINAL MUSIC: Rachel Portman. DISTRIBUTOR: Universal Pictures.

QUOTES

Noxeema Jackson: You look like the Miami Sound Machine just exploded all over you!

FACTS

RELEASE DATE: September 8th, 1995 (USA) BOX OFFICE OPENING: $9.0 million (USA) BOX OFFICE RESULT: $36.4 million (USA) - The title of the movie came from an autographed picture of Julie Newmar that Douglas Carter Beane saw on the wall of a Times Square Chinese restaurant, the China Bowl, in the mid 1980s. - The name of one of the towns, Bala Cynwood, was the name of the Executive Producer's (Mitch Kohn's) Junior High School in Pennsylvania. - Several character names are taken from classic literature. Virgil and Beatrice appear in Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy while Billy Rudd and Crazy Elija appear in Herman Melville works, Billy Budd and Moby Dick respectively. - Director Beeban Kidron was five months pregnant when shooting began in July 1994. She gave birth the day after the film wrapped. - Actual drag queens audtioned for the three starring roles, as well as Hollywood actors Robin Williams, James Spader, Robert Sean Leonard, John Cusack and Stephen Dorff.

Via Boheme: I feel like Miss Jayne Mansfield in this car.

Chi-Chi Rodriguez: If I were bread, would you be my butter?

Noxeema Jackson: When a gay man has way too much fashion sense for a single gender, he is a drag queen.

Vida Boheme: What in gay hell?

Chi-Chi Rodriguez: I got more legs than a bucket of chicken.

Vida Boheme: Ready or not, here comes mama!

Vida Boheme: Here is where they asked young Vida to stop imitating Esther Williams in Million Dollar Mermaid.

CRITICAL COMMENTS

"It's a glam-o-rama party until the trio hits the road. Suddenly, Wong Foo is all cross-dressed with no place to go but down." -- Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today

"No, it's not all that good, but it's too good hearted to dislike." -- Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress

"As a whole, this film may have style, but it lacks substance." -- James Berardinelli, Reel Views