‘Stop! That! Train!’ review: Much-needed comic relief as LGBTQ hate escalates

A “pressure valve” is what director Adam Shankman called his new film, Stop! That! Train!, at a recent preview screening. The Hairspray filmmaker, without getting into specifics, said the movie wasn’t about escapism or turning a blind eye to the world’s troubles but rather a way to give viewers a moment of levity from the mounting pressures on everyday people as 2026 carries on. And while Shankman also (jokingly) called Stop! That! Train! one of the “most important” films of our lifetime, he can rest assured that the movie is a right-on-time comedy that in a time when working people can use a good laugh.  

Directed by Shankman with a screenplay written by Christina Friel and Connor Wright, Stop! That! Train! is a love child of the classic movie Airplane and a comedy challenge on RuPaul’s super popular Drag Race series. The story follows best friends Tess (Ginger Minj) and DeeDee (Jujubee), who are train stewardesses for the low-budget Stank Rail. When the pair finds themselves unemployed, they manage to get work on the glitzy Glamazonian Express.

No sooner are they finally living their dreams than a catastrophic “Stormaganza” threatens to derail their high-speed workplace and crash it into Florida. The duo must join forces with the snobby first-class attendants (Symone, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Marcia Marcia Marcia) and United States President Judy Gagwell (RuPaul) to save the day before it’s too late. Yes, this plot sounds utterly ridiculous (because it is), but it serves as a great ingredient in a wonderful mixture of camp, drag queen extravagance, and non-stop gags and punchlines.

Many of the gags and jokes land well, and they certainly come quickly. The movie is rated R, so this isn’t for children and has no problem letting its freak flag fly in terms of where the comedy goes. Some bits are witty, others are downright silly, but almost all of it is delivered with high energy and a comfortable pace that doesn’t make it feel rushed or all over the place. 

There are many celebrity cameos, but the film is carried by the main cast, most of whom are Drag Race contestants from seasons past. Their comedic timing is impeccable, with standout performances from Latrice Royale (we need a spin-off film for their character ASAP!) and Matt Rogers, who had slightly smaller roles but stole every scene they were in. 

In a film led by so many artists and entertainers who are part of the LGBTQ community, the elephant in the room of our current political climate feels impossible to ignore. Stop! That! Train! is boisterous and revels in its references to gay culture. It comes out during Pride month, at a time when there have been constant attacks on LGBTQ people by those in political power. From the conservative condemnation of the educational and inclusive drag queen story hours at libraries to the avalanche of legislation infringing on the rights of the LGBTQ community, hate and intolerance are being constantly fueled, making many who belong to marginalized communities feel unsafe to be who they are.

Cultural icon RuPaul said as much in a viral (and somewhat divisive) video, saying, “the bad guys win…. fascism is back.” And while the advice of just “party and dance” may not be the best route to dealing with oppression, her admonition to “have fun and laugh” has some merit, because everyone needs moments of laughter in between fighting the power. And Stop! That! Train! delivers in abundance on that front. Nothing in the movie veers into overt political commentary (aside from alluding to the fact that most politicians are corrupt), but giving a film where the majority of the main cast is gay a theatrical release in this moment is political in itself.  

Those not familiar with RuPaul’s Drag Race will still be able to laugh along. There are references to the series, with many past stars throughout, but the film remains accessible to everyone. In reality, the only issue may be generational, as there are many pop-culture references from the early 2000s and before, which may leave Generation Z and Alpha feeling a bit lost at times. Millennials and Gen Xers should feel right at home, though.   

At 92 minutes, Stop! That! Train never overstays its welcome. It provides a fun time in the theater where you’re certain to laugh, even if you’re uncertain about the future of our world.  

Stop! That! Train! opens in theaters June 12, 2026.

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