Author
Adam Shankman’s Stop! That! Train! is a riotous, LGBTQ+-centric disaster comedy that blends the rapid-fire parody style of Airplane! with the fierce, glitter-soaked energy of the RuPaul’s Drag Race universe. Featuring standout performances from Ginger Minj and Jujubee alongside an all-star ensemble, this campy flick delivers nonstop laughs, infectious silliness, and pure cinematic joy.
Stop! That! Train! Review: RuPaul and Drag Race Alum Deliver a Campy, High-Speed Comedy Triumph
The ultimate success of Stop! That! Train! depends entirely on your appreciation for relentless, rapid-fire humor. Directed by Adam Shankman, this chaotic comedy unloads jokes at a breakneck pace. While the film clearly takes its cues from classic 1970s disaster parodies like Airplane!, it also draws heavy inspiration from millennial cult comedies like Mean Girls and Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion.
Produced by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato under the World of Wonder banner, the project is deeply rooted in the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise. The casting directors filled the screen with iconic fan favorites from the reality series, supplementing them with mainstream comedic actors and familiar celebrity guest judges.
Plot Overview and Narrative Beats
The core comedic premise relies on a simple twist: transplanting the traditional airborne crisis onto a locomotive. The central conflict ignites when Donna Dusk (played by Rachel Bloom), a rare voice of sanity in the regional control station, spots a massive, unprecedented weather anomaly heading down the tracks—a literal “stormaganza.”
Compounding the danger, a sudden lightning strike fries the vehicle’s braking mechanisms, sending the train hurtling out of control. To make matters worse, a rogue scorpion paralyzes the only qualified operator on board. With the runaway locomotive racing toward a collision zone packed with a nuclear facility, an animal rescue shelter, and the residential home of actress Laurie Metcalf, the film transforms into a ridiculous, high-stakes rescue mission.
Main Cast and Character Portrayals
RuPaul commands her scenes as United States President Judy Gagwell, utilizing flawless comedic delivery and her trademark boisterous laugh to supercharge the political subplots. However, the true emotional core and comedic highlights of the film belong to the brilliant pairing of Ginger Minj and Jujubee. Playing best friends Tess and DeeDee, the duo maintains an endearing sweetness even when the script demands standard formulaic friction. Having graduated together from the Train Hostess Academy, they find themselves stuck working unglamorous shifts for a budget transit company called Stank Rail.
Their professional fortunes shift dramatically due to a sudden operational shortage on the Glamazonian Express, a state-of-the-art luxury bullet train in desperate need of immediate cabin service. While the sleek setting is a dream come true for Tess and DeeDee, they are instantly targeted by the first-class elite. Led by the snobbish Amber (Brooke Lynn Hytes)—their longtime academic rival—and flanked by her loyal sidekicks Ayshleiygh (Symone) and Alli (Marty Lauter), the elitist trio immediately banishes our heroines to the economy section.
Romance enters the equation when DeeDee connects with the oblivious assistant conductor Cal, played with brilliant physical comedy by Brian Jordan Alvarez. Meanwhile, Chris Parnell offers a wonderfully understated performance as Conductor Davenport. Channeling the deadpan gravity of Leslie Nielsen, Parnell delivers unhinged, hilariously inappropriate public announcements detailing his character’s personal life post-divorce.
+---------------------+-----------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Actor | Character | Performance Highlight |
+---------------------+-----------------------+------------------------------------------+
| RuPaul | President Judy Gagwell| Impeccable comic timing and sharp lines |
| Ginger Minj | Tess | Endearing underdog charm and energy |
| Jujubee | DeeDee | Perfect comedic rapport and sweet nature |
| Brooke Lynn Hytes | Amber | A divinely shady drag Disney villainess |
| Brian Jordan Alvarez| Cal | Hilarious, high-energy physical comedy |
| Chris Parnell | Conductor Davenport | Subdued, deadpan Leslie Nielsen homage |
+---------------------+-----------------------+------------------------------------------+
The political satire providing the backdrop to the crisis offers some of the sharpest writing in the film. Matt Rogers turns in a hilarious performance as President Gagwell’s aggressively defensive press secretary, who literally drags dissenting journalists out of briefings to work in fast-fashion manufacturing. RuPaul plays the oval office scenes like a seasoned pro, turning every line into a memorable punchline. Her character’s political undoing occurs during a live broadcast, where military flashbacks to a fictional, Reagan-era “Rail Force” cause her public approval ratings to tank to historic lows.
Direction and Screenplay
Director Adam Shankman guides the madness with an assured hand, leaning into the scattershot nature of the screenplay by Connor Wright and Christina Friel. Knowing that a missed joke will quickly be forgotten when the next gag arrives seconds later, Shankman keeps the energy high. The production feels like a direct evolution of his work on Hairspray, maximizing the camp potential of the massive ensemble cast.
The humor is unapologetically tailored for LGBTQ+ viewers, welcoming outside audiences while leaning heavily into queer pop-culture references. The film delights in abandoning logic entirely; safety briefings morph into choreographed voguing numbers, and classic aviation tropes like explosive cabin decompression are absurdly applied to a passenger train. The narrative embraces complete structural anarchy, seamlessly converting transit cars into flashing discotheques or silent meditation zones without explanation.
Technical Aspects: Cinematography, Music, and Production Design
Given the exceptionally fast 19-day shooting schedule, the technical execution is remarkably stable. While the visual effects during the storm sequences and certain green-screen backdrops look intentionally campy, the aesthetic fits the film’s self-aware tone perfectly.
Luka Bazeli’s camera work keeps the environments vibrant, working in tandem with Alessandro Marvelli’s resourceful production design and Salvador Pérez Jr.’s extravagant wardrobe choices. The soundtrack benefits heavily from Jacques Brautbar’s score and high-energy original numbers composed by Leland, which keep the pacing brisk.
Supporting Performances and Cameos
The supporting cast is packed with brief, memorable appearances. Latrice Royale earns massive laughs as Barbra, an insulting transit agent who continuously pops up in different employment roles. Rachel Bloom anchors the ground control scenes as an excellent straight woman to her incompetent colleagues.
Sarah Michelle Geller displays great self-deprecation playing an ignored version of herself, while Lisa Rinna parodies her own reality television persona perfectly. Missi Pyle delivers a standout bit as an aggressive flirt targeting an unconscious passenger, and Drew Droege brings quick wit to his brief role as an elitist traveler. The only guest appearance that misses the mark is a recurring, poorly written bit featuring Jesse Tyler Ferguson as an aggressive passenger bothered by a newborn.
Overall Verdict
Ultimately, Stop! That! Train! functions as an excellent showcase for its central drag performers, many of whom are tackling their first major scripted acting roles. Brooke Lynn Hytes excels as a theatrical, Disney-inspired antagonist, but the film ultimately belongs to Ginger Minj and Jujubee. Their natural chemistry, precise comedic timing, and satisfying underdog narrative turn this high-concept disaster parody into an incredibly heartwarming and genuinely funny cinematic ride.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Stop! That! Train! about?
Stop! That! Train! is a campy disaster comedy parody directed by Adam Shankman. It follows two best friends and train stewardesses, Tess and DeeDee, who must save the high-speed luxury Glamazonian Express after its brakes fail while heading directly into a catastrophic “stormaganza.”
Who is in the cast of Stop! That! Train!?
The movie stars RuPaul as U.S. President Judy Gagwell, alongside drag icons Ginger Minj, Jujubee, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Symone, and Latrice Royale. The ensemble cast also features mainstream comedy stars like Rachel Bloom, Matt Rogers, Chris Parnell, and Sarah Michelle Geller.
Is Stop! That! Train! a spin-off of RuPaul’s Drag Race?
While it is not an official narrative spin-off, the film was produced by World of Wonder (the production company behind Drag Race) and features a heavy concentration of the reality show’s most famous alumnae and celebrity guest judges.
Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the reviewer and based on the premiere screening at NewFest. Release schedules, regional availability, and streaming platforms are subject to change by the distributors (Bleecker Street) and production companies.
Also Read: Iron Boy Movie Review: An Emotionally Resonance-Driven Masterpiece of Arthouse Animation