An early gay sequel, ‘Too Outrageous!’ was bigger and sexier—but that’s not always a good thing
Welcome back to our queer film retrospective, “A Gay Old Time.” In this week’s column, we revisit the 1987 film Too Outrageous!Last week we talked about the 1977 Canadian comedy Outrageous!; the small movie with a big, glittery heart about a hairdresser with dreams of becoming a drag star through his celebrity impersonations.
It was one of the first gay films to get mainstream distribution in North America, earning a place in the queer film canon. But it was also one of the few queer-themed films (both back then and today) to get a sequel.This week, we’re jumping 10 years ahead to 1987 to dive into Too Outrageous!, the follow-up that sees Robin Turner (Craig Russell) try to take his drag act into a bigger stage, while attempting keep the small community of friends he’s built together, as the ever-changing and increasingly dark 1980s starts to take a toll on the community.While not widely remembered, 1977’s ‘Outrageous!’ was one of the first queer movies to hit mainstream theaters.The film opens seven years after the first one ended, with Robin doing his act at an anniversary performance in New York City.
He has made a name for himself as an impersonation drag act (which are still the most entertaining portions of the film, apart from some truly unfortunate choices in which Robin performs in blackface—yikes).
His best friend, Liza (Hollis McLaren), has had many years of stable mental health and now wants to become a writer. And Robin has found a thriving community in the queer nightlife of New York.
