FILMMAKERS SHOW FELICITY, SUBJECT NO RESPECT

The best thing about TRANSAMERICA is its gimmick. The main character is a pre-op transsexual played by Felicity Huffman, a terrific actress. She probably signed on because in the right hands the film could have been the next MONSTER. But with sub, sub-par writing and directing, Huffman is stranded on screen with precious little support.
The entire film feels false, so she never disappears into character. You’re constantly aware of her affected look and voice. And the jokes lie there uneasily. They don’t want to make fun of their subject, but they don’t know what else to do for humor.

For a great movie on the same subject, watch PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT (which shares more with this film’s plot than the filmmakers would probably care to admit.) That movie fearlessly mined their characters for big laughs, yet always treated them with dignity, and got an award worthy performance from Terence Stamp as a transsexual. TRANSAMERICA is g-a-r-b-a-g-e and it deserves to disappear without a trace.