Review of Transamerica (2005) by Megan S — 09 Jun 2009

Transamerica had a lot of heart. The story, which could have been turned into a cringingly soap-opera type affair, was actually told with humor and the slightest tinge of sardonic cynicism, making it endearing and entertaining. Felicity Huffman was wonderful in the role of Bree, though, as she is not particularly mannish looking, suspension of disbelief was difficult for much of the film. The nuances she excelled at were in the gamut of emotions experienced by Bree in her particularly unusual situation, even if her masculine tone of voice and awkward walk did little to sell that she was supposed to biologically be a man in woman's clothing.

Transamerica succeeds in its well-written story and screenplay by writer and debut director Duncan Tucker. The heartfelt confusion and angst by both mother/father and deeply disturbed son is the soul of the film, and between Huffman and Zegers' performances and the direction eliciting those performances, the film was engaging throughout, and the characters were relatable and sympathetic.

Transamerica is weakest, however, in some of the kitschy art direction and costuming and in some of the eccentric supporting performances. The divine Fionnula Flanagan appears as Bree's overwrought mother, who finds Bree's life choice ultimately tragic. There's no mistaking this feeling of hers because Flanagan takes her character to hysterically over-the-top dimensions. Graham Greene's brief cameo as an Indian trucker with a romantic interest in Bree did not serve a clear purpose to the story or the picture as a whole. It was also interestingly stereotypical that Bree overcompensated for her lack of biological femininity by having the pinkest home and wardrobe. It was like Coco Chanel without the flattering outlines and felt as over the top as Flanagan's performance, even as Huffman's sympathetic portrayal of Bree was charmingly understated.

The soundtrack, however, was excellent. All of the songs were so appropriate for the mood or emotion being explored. In fact, all in all, Transamerica was a pleasant and refreshingly humorous exploration not only of transsexuality but of the effects it has on loved ones, known and unknown.