The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)

 

Terence Stamp! Hugo Weaving! Guy Pearce! In drag! 

I mean: what's not to love? 

Did the final sentence throw you off a little? Good. Because this film is anything but predictable, yet an absolute delight as it manages to put a smile on pretty much every face as soon as the story starts.

Tick and Felicia (Weaving & Pearce) are drag performers in Sydney, but it quickly becomes clear that Tick has become disillusioned with the same routines day in day out. Then he gets a mysterious phone call to come and perform in Alice Springs for about a month. He jumps at the idea, but can't do it alone. So he gets Felicia on board, as well as Bernadette (Stamp), who has just lost her husband to a stupid accident and needs to get away for a while. They buy a large bus and convert it into a riding camper/boudoir and head out to the centre of Australia.

Along the way they meet a variety of people, some who are very accepting of some of their more extravagant mannerisms, and some who are downright hostile. But fortunately, they make it in one piece to Alice Springs, where a few surprises await our trio. Well, at least two of them, as they were unaware that Tick is still actually married and to a woman no less. 

It is a simple road trip idea, but it is so much unabashed fun to watch, it is infectious. Of course the excellent music helps, but if the characters were badly drawn no one would keep interest. This is where the film truly shines. Weaving is brilliant as the focal point and a man conflicted by doing what he loves most and the fact that he is still married and even has a child, of which only a few people know. Then there's Pearce as Felicia, who is rather eccentric and perhaps even a bit too much for most people, but who has that flamboyant streak that can work wonders. 

But who takes the cake? That's Terence Stamp as Bernadette, who actually has become a woman. The sarcastic wit and dry delivery of Stamp's lines are a hoot and will manage to crack almost everyone up every single time. 

Is it a rather unexpected joy to watch? Yes, a hundred times yes. This is a film that makes you all fuzzy and warm inside and will stay with you long after you have watched it.

Now put on a frock and lipsync to Gloria Gaynor!