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ComedyDrama

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar

- Attitude is everything.

Manhattan drag queens Vida Boheme and Noxeema Jackson impress regional judges in competition, securing berths in the Nationals in Los Angeles. When the two meet pathetic drag novice Chi-Chi Rodriguez — one of the losers that evening — the charmed Vida and Noxeema agree to take the hopeless youngster under their joined wing. Soon the three set off on a madcap road trip across America and struggle to make it to Los Angeles in time.

Release Date : 1995-09-07

Language :SpanishEnglish

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Amblin EntertainmentUniversal Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Patrick Swayze

Character Name : Vida Boheme

Original Name : Patrick Swayze

Gender : Male

Wesley Snipes

Character Name : Noxeema Jackson

Original Name : Wesley Snipes

Gender : Male

John Leguizamo

Character Name : Chi-Chi Rodriguez

Original Name : John Leguizamo

Gender : Male

Stockard Channing

Character Name : Carol Ann

Original Name : Stockard Channing

Gender : Female

Blythe Danner

Character Name : Beatrice

Original Name : Blythe Danner

Gender : Female

Arliss Howard

Character Name : Virgil

Original Name : Arliss Howard

Gender : Male

Jason London

Character Name : Bobby Ray

Original Name : Jason London

Gender : Male

Chris Penn

Character Name : Sheriff Dollard

Original Name : Chris Penn

Gender : Male

Melinda Dillon

Character Name : Merna

Original Name : Melinda Dillon

Gender : Female

Beth Grant

Character Name : Loretta

Original Name : Beth Grant

Gender : Female

Alice Drummond

Character Name : Clara

Original Name : Alice Drummond

Gender : Female

Marceline Hugot

Character Name : Katina

Original Name : Marceline Hugot

Gender : Female

Jennifer Milmore

Character Name : Bobby Lee

Original Name : Jennifer Milmore

Gender : Female

Jamie Harrold

Character Name : Billy Budd

Original Name : Jamie Harrold

Gender : Male

Mike Hodge

Character Name : Jimmy Joe

Original Name : Mike Hodge

Gender : Male

Michael Vartan

Character Name : Tommy

Original Name : Michael Vartan

Gender : Male

RuPaul

Character Name : Rachel Tensions

Original Name : RuPaul

Gender : Male

Julie Newmar

Character Name : Herself

Original Name : Julie Newmar

Gender : Female

Joel Story

Character Name : Little Earnest

Original Name : Joel Story

Gender : Male

Abie Hope Hyatt

Character Name : Donna Lee

Original Name : Abie Hope Hyatt

Gender : Male

Jamie Leigh Wolbert

Character Name : Sandra Lee

Original Name : Jamie Leigh Wolbert

Gender : Male

Shea Degan

Character Name : State Trooper

Original Name : Shea Degan

Gender : Male

Dean Houser

Character Name : State Trooper

Original Name : Dean Houser

Gender : Male

Joe Grojean

Character Name : State Trooper

Original Name : Joe Grojean

Gender : Male

Keith Reddin

Character Name : Motel Manager

Original Name : Keith Reddin

Gender : Male

Naomi Campbell

Character Name : Girl

Original Name : Naomi Campbell

Gender : Female

William P. Hopkins

Character Name : Small Guy

Original Name : William P. Hopkins

Gender : Male

Dayton Callie

Character Name : Crazy Elijah

Original Name : Dayton Callie

Gender : Male

Ron Carley

Character Name : Old Man

Original Name : Ron Carley

Gender : Male

Shea R. Bredenkamp

Character Name : Rude Boy

Original Name : Shea R. Bredenkamp

Gender : Male

Michael Tushaus

Character Name : Rude Boy

Original Name : Michael Tushaus

Gender : Male

Patrick Tuttle

Character Name : Rude Boy

Original Name : Patrick Tuttle

Gender : Male

Timothy A. Zimmerman

Character Name : Rude Boy

Original Name : Timothy A. Zimmerman

Gender : Male

Tim Keller

Character Name : Rude Boy

Original Name : Tim Keller

Gender : Male

Miss Understood

Character Name : Miss Understood

Original Name : Miss Understood

Gender : Male

Joey Arias

Character Name : Justine

Original Name : Joey Arias

Gender : Male

Allen Hidalgo

Character Name : Chita Riviera

Original Name : Allen Hidalgo

Gender : Male

Mishell Chandler

Character Name : Miss Missy

Original Name : Mishell Chandler

Gender : Male

Catiria Reyes

Character Name : Herself

Original Name : Catiria Reyes

Gender : Male

David Drumgold

Character Name : Cappuccino Commotion

Original Name : David Drumgold

Gender : Male

Miss Coco Peru

Character Name : Miss Coco Peru

Original Name : Miss Coco Peru

Gender : Male

Lionel Tiburcio

Character Name : Laritza Dumont

Original Name : Lionel Tiburcio

Gender : Male

Bernard A. Mosca

Character Name : Olympia

Original Name : Bernard A. Mosca

Gender : Male

Daniel T. 'Sweetie' Boothe

Character Name : Announcer

Original Name : Daniel T. 'Sweetie' Boothe

Gender : Male

Susanne Bartsch

Character Name : NY Pageant Judge

Original Name : Susanne Bartsch

Gender : Male

Quentin Crisp

Character Name : NY Pageant Judge

Original Name : Quentin Crisp

Gender : Male

Flotilla DeBarge

Character Name : NY Pageant Judge

Original Name : Flotilla DeBarge

Gender : Male

Matthew Kasten

Character Name : NY Pageant Judge

Original Name : Matthew Kasten

Gender : Male

Widow Norton

Character Name : NY Pageant Judge

Original Name : Widow Norton

Gender : Male

CoCo LaChine

Character Name : CoCo LaChine

Original Name : CoCo LaChine

Gender : Female

Mike Fulk

Character Name : Victoria Weston

Original Name : Mike Fulk

Gender : Male

Niasse N. Mamadou

Character Name : Lola

Original Name : Niasse N. Mamadou

Gender : Male

Candis Cayne

Character Name : Candis Cayne

Original Name : Candis Cayne

Gender : Female

Shelton McDonald

Character Name : Princess Diandra

Original Name : Shelton McDonald

Gender : Male

Richard Ogden

Character Name : Kabuki

Original Name : Richard Ogden

Gender : Male

James Palacio

Character Name : Fiona James

Original Name : James Palacio

Gender : Male

Steven Polito

Character Name : Hedda Lettuce

Original Name : Steven Polito

Gender : Male

Philip Stoehr

Character Name : Philomena

Original Name : Philip Stoehr

Gender : Male

Margaret H. Flynn

Character Name : Vida's Mother

Original Name : Margaret H. Flynn

Gender : Female

Billie J. Diekman

Character Name : Florist

Original Name : Billie J. Diekman

Gender : Male

Shari Shell-True

Character Name : Dance Teacher

Original Name : Shari Shell-True

Gender : Male

Jimmy Ashmore

Character Name : Club Kid (uncredited)

Original Name : Jimmy Ashmore

Gender : Male

George Costacos

Character Name : Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : George Costacos

Gender : Male

Chauncey Duren

Character Name : Contest Judge (uncredited)

Original Name : Chauncey Duren

Gender : Male

Marshall Factora

Character Name : Waiter (uncredited)

Original Name : Marshall Factora

Gender : Male

Brian Ferrari

Character Name : Club Kid (uncredited)

Original Name : Brian Ferrari

Gender : Male

Alphonso King, Jr.

Character Name : Extra (uncredited)

Original Name : Alphonso King, Jr.

Gender : Male

Lady Bunny

Character Name : Contestant (uncredited)

Original Name : Lady Bunny

Gender : Male

Jesse Wells Martin

Character Name : Contestant (uncredited)

Original Name : Jesse Wells Martin

Gender : Male

Chris Place

Character Name : John (uncredited)

Original Name : Chris Place

Gender : Male

Channing Roos

Character Name : Flower Shop Assistant (uncredited)

Original Name : Channing Roos

Gender : Male

Johnathan Staci Kim

Character Name : Waiter (uncredited)

Original Name : Johnathan Staci Kim

Gender : Male

Robin Williams

Character Name : John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt (uncredited)

Original Name : Robin Williams

Gender : Male

Lito Wilson

Character Name : Viva Commotion (uncredited)

Original Name : Lito Wilson

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

Charles Tatum

@CharlesTatum

2023-09-27

Although it often crosses over into stereotype and sentimentality, this film is made likeable by its fabulous cast. Vida (Patrick Swayze) and Noxeema (Wesley Snipes) are co-winners in a New York drag queen contest. They win a trip to Hollywood to compete in a national pageant. Taking pity on drag queen in training Chi-Chi (John Leguizamo), they sell the two plane tickets and buy a Cadillac convertible and drive cross country. They have a run-in with hick sheriff Dollard (Chris Penn), and Vita thinks she has killed him after he discovers her male identity. The car breaks down somewhere in the Midwest, and the trio must wait a weekend before the part can be ordered. In the meantime, they integrate themselves into the small town, solving everyone's problems, and giving the place a little pizzazz. There are points in this film where my eyes rolled. No one in the town knows these three are men dressed in women's clothing. The dumb hick routine has been done before, and this film does not add anything. Vita, Noxeema, and Chi-Chi all have a heightened sense of fashion, have been rejected by their families, and can only rely on each other. Dollard is an insensitive bigot hunting the three down after being laughed at by other law enforcement officers. He is also a cliche, although Penn's scene in the bar talking about a man getting it on with another man is the highlight of the film. Despite all the stock characters, I am still recommending the film. Sure, the characters have been done before, but I still liked them all, even the villainous Dollard. The small town is populated by extremely good acting talent like Stockard Channing, Blythe Danner, Melinda Dillon, and Jeremy London, and that adds to the film. The writers never degenerate into the visiting trio trying to cover up the fact that they are men through weak slapstick or goofball chase scenes. After a while, I forgot Snipes, Swayze, and Leguizamo were actors dressed like women. There are no instances where the three "slip up" and reveal they are men, like "Tootsie" or "Some Like It Hot," and I am not faulting those films for that. Those films had straight men forced to dress like women. Here, Vita, Noxeema, and Chi-Chi make no secret of their love for men, and don't care what others believe of them- unless they could get physically hurt in the process. The title of the film refers to an autographed photograph the trio takes with them, turning it into their shrine and reason for going on. With cameos by Robin Williams, RuPaul, and the actual Julie Newmar, I found I enjoyed "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar" more than I probably should have. But like the three ladies, I just did not care.