To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995)

42% of critics liked it
(31 reviews)
69% of users liked it
(49,117 ratings)

Patrick Swayze plays Vida Boheme, a classy and long-reigning drag queen. With his understudy Noxeema Jackson (Wesley Snipes), Vida wins a New York drag stage contest and an all-expenses-paid trip to Hollywood. But when Miss Chi Chi Rodriguez (John Leguizamo) cries at having lost the contest,… More Patrick Swayze plays Vida Boheme, a classy and long-reigning drag queen. With his understudy Noxeema Jackson (Wesley Snipes), Vida wins a New York drag stage contest and an all-expenses-paid trip to Hollywood. But when Miss Chi Chi Rodriguez (John Leguizamo) cries at having lost the contest, soft-hearted Vida cashes in the airline tickets so the three of them can take a car out West. The film becomes a strange sort of buddy road movie, with the three cross-dressers traveling across the American heartland in a shiny yellow Cadillac. First they tangle with Sheriff Dollard (Chris Penn). He stops them for a minor traffic violation, puts the moves on Vida, and Vida knocks him out, so they flee. Later, they are stranded by car problems in a small town in Nebraska. Renting a room in a hotel, they put some life into the town and its annual strawberry festival. They provide a mousy local woman, Carol Ann (Stockard Channing), with new role models of assertiveness. They also insist on chivalrous treatment from the local good old boys and give lessons on courting to a teenage girl. This film was released on the heels of the more outrageous Australian film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, which featured Terence Stamp as a drag queen. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 49 min.
Directed By: Beeban Kidron
Written By: Douglas Carter Beane
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 8, 1995 Limited
On DVD: Jan 7, 2003
Studio: Universal Pictures

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, Variety
A politically correct comedy about drag queens? This is the American response to the superior Aussie flick Adventures of Priscilla. Macho Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, and John Leguizamo can't lift it above the routine.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
Kidron's direction stays flat even when the actors are funny. It doesn't help that the screenplay, by Douglas Carter Beane, is so thin that one of its biggest events is the three main characters' having car trouble.
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle
Imagine, "Wong Foo" suggests, a world where people stopped judging one another and simply surrendered to the silliness that's dormant inside us.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
Improbable as this all sounds, "Wong Foo" is a great deal of fun and a small step forward in Hollywood's depiction of homosexuals.
Joe Brown, Washington Post
Screenwriter Douglas Carter Beane pilfers not just plot elements from "Priscilla," but also stirs in big chunks of "Fried Green Tomatoes," "Bagdad Cafe," "Auntie Mame," "The Music Man" and "Cinderella."
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
What is amazing is how the movie manages to be funny and amusing while tippy-toeing around (a) sex, (b) controversy and (c) any originality in the plot.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Leguizamo's Chi Chi is the only one who looks anything like a drag queen, let alone a woman; yet we are asked to believe that it's Swayze's breathy Vida and Snipes' squealing Noxeema who've got their stocking seams straight.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
I was turned on, and it really confused me.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
No, it's not all that good, but it's too good hearted to dislike.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

♥˩ƳИИ &

Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes, John Leguizamo, Stockard Channing, Blythe Danner, Beth Grant, Melinda Dillon, Chria Penn, Jason London, Arliss Howard DIRECTED BY: Beeban Kidron This is one of those movies that I can watch anytime. It's a bit disturbing seeing these well… More
Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes, John Leguizamo, Stockard Channing, Blythe Danner, Beth Grant, Melinda Dillon, Chria Penn, Jason London, Arliss Howard DIRECTED BY: Beeban Kidron This is one of those movies that I can watch anytime. It's a bit disturbing seeing these well known actors dressed up as females, and it just can't be me who thinks Wesley Snipes looks crazy scary. But like I was saying I can watch this movie anytime. I stop and watch it every time it's on t.v. Guilty pleasure kinda film. The acting isn't all the great neither is the story. But its entertaining none the less. Its has funny moments and tries to tackle a serious issue of spousal abuse. But it just all ends up being a silly movie. Its great fun with a great cast and supporting cast. Give it a watch if you haven't.
Anthony L

Good old fashion camp fun, not as good as Priscilla but still funny. John Leguizamo is fantastic!
Megan S

I was expecting something more but this just fell flat. It was enjoyable enough and fun but not a laugh-out-loud comedy. Patrick Swayze has got to be the worst drag queen ever. John Leguizamo was almost believable.
Candy R

Funny movie about three drag queen's on a roadtrip. Great cast.
Lafe F

Not a terrible movie, but almost formulaic, with a Drag theme. It was fun seeing some macho actors dress up as women. It showed that Hollywood was more accepting of alternative lifestyles on mainstream movies - let's all hug and stop bashing each other, okay? The trailers and… More
Not a terrible movie, but almost formulaic, with a Drag theme. It was fun seeing some macho actors dress up as women. It showed that Hollywood was more accepting of alternative lifestyles on mainstream movies - let's all hug and stop bashing each other, okay? The trailers and media hype for "To Wong Foo" was annoying. I recall it was released around the same time as "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert", which I thought was even more screamingly-funny and less predictable. I think the title of "Too Wong Foo" caused annoyance and confusion; I didn't like it.
Cindy I

OK flick, but I didn't buy any of these guys as women, even tranny women. See Priscilla instead.
Jason S

Weird movie. It's ok once you get past all the men as women thing.
xGary X

Put three second rate "stars" in dresses and hilarity does not ensue. The oh so funny wacky title (it might as well have been called "I'm mad, me...") says it all.
Leigh R

Them are my type of guys... love ya baby!
Matthew R

Maybe it's that I'm a little of a skeptic, but the fact that the story of "To Wong Foo: Thanks for Everything, Julie Nemar" has an incredibly unoriginal premise but manages to look so wasn't lost on me. Or the fact that despite the fact that for some of the… More
Maybe it's that I'm a little of a skeptic, but the fact that the story of "To Wong Foo: Thanks for Everything, Julie Nemar" has an incredibly unoriginal premise but manages to look so wasn't lost on me. Or the fact that despite the fact that for some of the subject matter exposed here, nothing quite serious was made of it. Nevertheless, I will say that from start to finish, the movie was fun, entertaining, and quite daring if for the presence of three macho actors effectively playing drag queens. Like I said, the premise of this movie has been done to death: highly different people come to a small town (by accident), see the problems there, and manage in the course of their stay to get townsfolk to get in touch with themselves. Vida Boheme (Patrick Swayze), Noxema Jackson (Wesley Snipes), and Chi-Chi Rodriguez (John Leguizamo) are heading to the Miss Drag Queen Pageant in L.A., getting lost and winding in a backwoods town where not only do they stumble upon Carol Ann (admirably played by Stockard Channing) who is being abused by her husband (in two particularly uncomfortable scenes, one played off-screen), but where Chi-Chi almost gets raped by the local roughnecks, seems like this should belong in something darker, not a comedy. The fact that on both occasions nothing is resolved (satisfactorily) points towards this movie's failure to step up to the plate, examine those issues, and make something truly revelatory. That what should have been a one-scene situation in which Vida Boheme whacks Sheriff Dollard unconscious is turned into a weak showdown in which neither of the drag queens comes out to make an appearance (like they would under similar circumstances; anyone who knows or has seen drag queens knows that they have little fear of cops or men in uniform and will knock them out easily) only makes matters more false: whether or not these townsfolk were latently ready to accept "change" it is highly unlikely that it would have been played out this way. Why would Dollard even want to arrest these men in drag? It makes little sense but to force the issue that the "people" will stand up for Those Who Are Different. (And that among those "people" are the same roughnecks, now wearing pink and read boas? Something is wrong here.) Also unsatisfactorily is the way ChiChi's budding relationship with the local guy (Jason London) is handled: why not have him know she is a he and by doing so, take a huge risk that would strike the point home? Maybe it's timing. America isn't ready for men in drag and the chance someone might see through the appearance of femininity a man may have and go with their instincts. To Wong Foo is a movie that should have tackled these premises more upfront. It should have given all three of these men an actual sex life, real personalities. The closest thing that happens to romance is some shy flirting from Bobby Ray (Jason London) towards Chi-Chi, but even that is left flat after much exposition. The same way nothing else is said of Vida's familial relationship: all we know is that there is an estrangement, but nothing else. And Noxema gets saddled with nothing else but to be there, say one-liners, and chat with an old lady about Hollywood. And this is also, precisely, what keeps it from being a richer movie which explores its characters instead of laying them out to pasture and later dressing them in boas and fancy dresses. To see a drag queen without her make up on is to see the man underneath; since we aren't given that chance here, this is drag-lite, in which all is at surface level, messages of love run rampant as house music plays in the background, and just as it started, it ends in a beauty parade. Still, kudos to Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, and John Leguizamo for stepping out of their shoes and donning pumps and wigs. All are great, in equal measure. Snipes manages to channel a lot of Missy Elliott while Swayze might as well have become Brini Maxwell with a red wig. Leguizamo, though, is my favorite. While playing a close rendition of Rosie Perez with a good deal of Jennifer Lopez, he gives his character a sweet dimension. These three are the ones who make this movie completely enjoyable despite these complaints that arise. In the end, To Wong Foo feels incomplete but because of the three leads and its message of love and acceptance, it mostly works. Story: C Acting: B+ Direction: C Visuals: B- Overall: C+ **1/2 out of 4 stars
Deb S

This movie set out to make people laugh, and it certainly made me do so. Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, and John Leguizamo did a fine job in their roles, and carry them off with the right level of gravity. Lots of plot holes, but it doesn't matter. I think this movie is… More
This movie set out to make people laugh, and it certainly made me do so. Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, and John Leguizamo did a fine job in their roles, and carry them off with the right level of gravity. Lots of plot holes, but it doesn't matter. I think this movie is absolutely cute. Loved it!
Erin C

Very silly. Cheesy. Awkward at times. But it was fun and touching. Snipes is quite possibly the worst choice they could have made for a woman, but he was funny. Leguizamo was oddly convincing in his role.
Sarah P

A very fun and funny movie!
Lovable M

So ridiculous, it was kind of enjoyable.
Marcus W

Unfortunately this was released at the same time as Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and subsequently came out the weaker, but it's a shame. While this isn't as good, nor quite as deep, this film took a much lighter route: the three end up in a backwards town and make… More
Unfortunately this was released at the same time as Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and subsequently came out the weaker, but it's a shame. While this isn't as good, nor quite as deep, this film took a much lighter route: the three end up in a backwards town and make everyone's lives better. But it still deserves attention. The three leads are fantastic (Wesley Snipe's basketball scene is hilarious), and Chris Penn also gives great support. Any fan of Priscilla should definitely give this film a watch too.
Sunil J

Eh, it's okay.
Remi L

"Tie? Whatchu mean, 'Tie'?"
Ira Z

Unbelievably hilarious and entertaining movie. Even though it was a comedy flick about drag queens, the sincerity of the underlying takes on human nature and relationships from the third sex' point of view was tackled tastefully and effectively. The performances of Swayze,… More
Unbelievably hilarious and entertaining movie. Even though it was a comedy flick about drag queens, the sincerity of the underlying takes on human nature and relationships from the third sex' point of view was tackled tastefully and effectively. The performances of Swayze, Snipes, and Leguizamo were truly commendable. Not only that, they had such terrific chemistry with one another.
Anastasia B

disappointing - and no matter the effort, too fake. you can't expect straight men to be plausible when they wear the drag. These actors are not of Dustin Hoffman abilities and inspite some good moments, they really don't pass as gay. Maybe it's the script to blame for… More
disappointing - and no matter the effort, too fake. you can't expect straight men to be plausible when they wear the drag. These actors are not of Dustin Hoffman abilities and inspite some good moments, they really don't pass as gay. Maybe it's the script to blame for all the hype-- whatever. If you really want to see a film about drag... then watch "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" - or even "Tootsie"
Leo L

A favorite! Very funny!