Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
On Quartile, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar scores 7/10 across five categories — strongest on Plot (Above Average), weakest on Cinematography (Below Average).
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.
To Wong Foo is a warmhearted road comedy that benefits from the committed, charismatic performances of Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, and John Leguizamo in drag — each bringing distinct energy to their roles. The plot follows a familiar fish-out-of-water/road-trip structure, hitting expected beats of small-town transformation and acceptance without much surprise. Cinematography is functional and unremarkable for a mid-90s studio comedy. Novelty is moderate — the premise of three drag queens uplifting a repressed small town had freshness in 1995, though the film never pushes as far as it could have. The ending is feel-good and satisfying but thoroughly predictable.