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

Arty and quite amusing entertainment - The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert review by CP Customer

Stunning, rich colours and a great sound track accompany this entertaining road movie.

Terry Camps it up - The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert review by NC

One of those cult films, like Baghdad Cafe. Sort of quirky, with a main man playing character role.

Terence done a lot of films since the Collector, and is always watchable. Plus can hear what he is saying. No lines thrown away with TS

Spoiled Exotica - The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert review by Steve

Bittersweet Australian road-comedy which was groundbreaking for its wider exposure of the drag queen circuit as three cabaret performers travel from cosmopolitan Sydney, via the majestic interior, to the rural backwater of Alice Springs- meeting with confusion, hostility and sometimes, acceptance. In 1994 this was praised for dragging an underground subculture into the public gaze.

Pun alert! Some critics are now sniffy about the casting of mainstream actors as the artistes, though the trio give performances which seem authentic and sincere, at least to an outsider. Terence Stamp is best as a post-op transgender female dealing with the disappointments of middle age as well as maybe being too old for all this full-on fabulousness and sequins.

Plus the constant attritional cosmetic work. Guy Pearce as the wild, hyperactive rookie and Hugo Weaving as a wiser, more diplomatic gay dad also offer sympathetic, detailed portrayals. The plot feels like a greatest hits of anecdotes from the road, but this really cares about their motivations and experiences. And there's a soundtrack of the usual disco classics. Including ABBA...

By the fade out, it is possible to imagine how it feels to walk in their shoes. Or rather, heels. Unfortunately, a disastrous subplot about a Filipina bride wrecks the middle section, and betrays an absence of the empathy and tolerance the story expects for its heroes. And brings into focus a wider lack of taste. So, without judicious use of FF this potential crowd pleaser is ultimately flawed.