Connie And Carla
The musical numbers are where this movie most gleefully lets loose: campy routines poke fun at musical theater’s guilty-pleasure excesses, building to a showstopping appearance by Debbie Reynolds, the idol of Connie and Carla. The makeup and wigs are every bit as over-the-top as you’d expect, and the performances bring plenty of wit and energy. I even found myself enjoying the songs and dances, which isn’t always the case for me.
There are fair reasons some viewers may object. Two cisgender women pose as drag queens and end up outshining actual drag performers; a straight cis man throws up because he believes he has kissed a queer man; and the movie handles gender and queerness on a fairly surface level. Those criticisms are understandable. Still, I think there’s room to relax and enjoy a film that is plainly aiming for laughs and entertainment rather than depth or seriousness.
Connie and Carla have been best friends since childhood, but their hopes of making it as singers and performers aren’t exactly encouraged by their boyfriends. Their plans take a dramatic turn when they witness their club boss being murdered. Fleeing the criminals, the friends head to Los Angeles, figuring it’s far enough away to keep them safe.
In LA, a chance visit to a drag club leads them to learn that auditions for new performers are coming up. They try out, get hired, and become a sensation. The club, previously short on life, starts attracting customers, and the women soon become the talk of the place. But the criminals are still searching for them.
Alongside the chase, the club’s other gay men and drag performers have their own stories. The most affecting thread follows the gay bartender, who also performs in drag, and his estranged brother, played by David Duchovny. Their reunion after years apart shifts between awkwardness, tenderness, humor, and genuine heartbreak. Connie also develops a romance with the brother, who is straight.
The finale brings the comedy and feeling together: Connie and Carla get the bad guys arrested, then tell the truth in front of a full audience. Their story makes this a queer-friendly watch, even if I wouldn’t call it a gay film in the strict sense. Its drag culture and the home the two women find within the LGBT community give it that appeal, while its camp and occasional honest emotion make the ride worthwhile. I had a genuinely good time with it. If you enjoy camp and want an entertaining night, give it a watch. (6/10)