TOO OUTRAGEOUS

Canada, 1987, 100 minutes, Colour.
Craig Russell, Hollis Mc Laren.
Directed by Richard Benner.

Too Outrageous is a Canadian production, written and directed by Dick Benner. Benner directed a very successful comedy, Outrageous, in the mid-'70s. This is a mid-'80s sequel.

The films were star vehicles for female impersonator Craig Russell. His repertoire includes the expected: Mae West, Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, Carol Channing... Russell, in this second film, is rather chubby and his performances, to that extent, lack some credibility. His voice and manner of the stars is more persuasive.

The film takes up the story of Robin Turner, an impersonator, successful in clubs but having the opportunity to go into the big time. There are the usual Star is Born variations on the theme, including the personality of his friend, Lisa, a writer who has spent some time in a mental institution. There is his manager, musical director - as well as the ambitious New York agent and the hustler that she employs to keep Robin company and to build up his ego.

The film offers familiar material and relies on its success for the screen presence of the cast, the camp impersonations of the stars, the atmosphere of camp clubs - and the film is a bit more explicit about homosexual relationships in the '80s and also focuses on the advent of AIDS and deaths from AIDS.

1.Entertaining comedy? Variation on A Star Is Born? Female impersonators? Their world? Show business?

2.The New York and Canadian settings? The cities, apartments, offices, clubs? The musical score - and the range of songs for the impersonator?

3.The title and its original focus? The sequel? Robin Turner and his impersonations as outrageous, the world of the clubs as outrageous?

4.Craig Russell and his skills? As actor, as impersonator? The range of performances? His friendship with Lisa, their mutual love and help? His agent and support? Comebacks? Ups and downs in career? The performance for the agent, the interviews and the opening up of possibilities for film and television, video? Contracts? Robin and his moodiness, drinking, sardonic attitudes? The need for ego support? The encounter with Tony, the affair, performing together? The break-up when Tony was rejected from the performance? Hearing the truth from Tony? Lisa and her friendship with Manuel, Robin and his feeling isolated? Betty and her pressures? Irresponsible as regards rehearsals, performance? Feeling alienated, Tony leaving him, his agent telling him the truth about AIDS, love and friendship and his tantrums? The final song? Reunited with friends - and a different future?

5.Camp themes, homosexual relationships, hustlers? The reality of AIDS in the '80s and its destructiveness, illness and death?

6.Lisa, her background, mental breakdown? Her stories? Wanting to get published? Friendship with Robin, companion? His performances and her support? Her meeting Manuel, the affair? His superstitions and religion? Falling out with him? Her collapse, the institution, Robin masquerading as her mother to get her out? Her wanting to stand on her own feet? Betty and the publication of the stories? Alienated from Robin, the agent persuading her to support him? Hearing her final song? Reunited?

7.The agent and the musical arranger, their relationship between themselves, with Robin? Agent work, getting performances? The New York contact? Robin and his career, failure? The music director's death? The agent and his strong talking with Robin and making him face reality?

8.Tony, the hustler, relating with Robin, the song and dance routines? Rejected from performance? The brutality of his ending the relationship? His weeping privately?

9.Betty, the New York agents, ambitions? Her wanting to make her way? Contracts, pressure, rehearsals and training? Performances for backers? Her hiring Tony? Her being unmasked? Her devotion to Robin - future?

10.The world of impersonators, clubs? The patrons at the bars? The bartenders? Entering into performances? The world of agents and backers?

11.Comedy, serious? Not seeming so outrageous in the 1980s?