I don't know why they made it a series, you could've done a movie with less filler. But it's fun to see some of the girls getting cameos, and it gives some legitimacy to their careers and to drag as an acceptable art form and not some novelty thing. The story is kinda thin and comes of as a vehicle for Ru to explore notions of gender in this new era, because she was an old queen who offended the new queens and she just wants to make sense of this messy lil world. Plus it makes a heartfelt comment on older women and queens getting grifted by younger hotties, which is sweet. And she's captivating that any flaws in her acting can be written off, she knows her craft, she knows about stage presence and delivery, she's a good role model, she's built an empire when her life could've gone in a worse third act of Paris is Burning direction (easily one of the most depressing documentaries you can ever watch).
So this series is hammy as hell and she's not pulled out any stops on chances for her to strut (and mince a little) but it's there as padding to make a ten episode series, I don't see why they couldn't have bought a movie original. So it's hard to really keep paying attention. It's a road movie and she plays off some street kid and the chemistry takes ages to really build. The kid jumping around in her undies in defiance of the bad girl scout analogy (because feminism) was funnier. It has its moments. The world would be a shitty place without Mama and her girls and the sunshine and shade they bring. Fuck it, let her have a show. She usually played second fiddle to people like LL Cool J or some background character like in But I'm A Cheerleader. (is that on Netflix? I want to watch that it rules). It seems kind of overdue. I'm glad Drag Race hasn't been written off as some pageant parody. It's kicked America's Next Top Model's ass as far as I'm aware. It's about pride and family and togetherness and helping people not hurting them. We need more glitter. We need Ru. She don't need us or whatever opinions we have on her show. Yes it's not entirely realistic and very Lifetime in its aesthetic, and we could do without the voice overs. But it doesn't suck. A lot of other shit sucks more.
No comments:
Post a Comment