By Jan Wahl—
Valentine’s Day is such a drag, and for me not in a good way. I used to be desperate for presents and attention. Now I just want to settle in with a feelgood romance (which leaves out the great Brokeback Mountain).
So many LGBTQ+ movies and TV shows seem to be sad, yet there is also joy involved in romance. The first queer flick that always comes to mind for me is one I have written about before. The Celluloid Closet needs viewing a few times. In one hour and 47 minutes, narrator Lily Tomlin, screenwriter Armistead Maupin, director Rob Epstein, and producer Jeffrey Friedman bring us the media’s screen depictions of queer Hollywood. Based on the 1981 book by Vito Russo, this is a fascinating classic film.
I recently watched a documentary that is not exactly feelgood but is still well worth seeing: The Fabulous Allan Carr (on Prime Video). It details the life of extravagant producer Carr, a man who chased his dreams and often made them happen. We get all the details about his producing Grease, Can’t Stop the Music, La Cage aux Folles, and the 1989 Academy Awards show. It is a real look at showbiz, but also at a remarkable man.
Our Castro Theatre is reopening with one of my favorite films. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert will be fabulous on the big screen once again. Two drag queens and a transsexual (should have won Terence Stamp an Oscar!) take their act on the road in outback Australia. Written and directed by Stephen Elliott, this remarkable film won the Oscar for Costume Design and a Bafta Award for hair and makeup. But it is more than the surface. It has tremendous heart. Do not miss a chance to see it at the newly renovated Castro.
Some people thought To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar was a rip off of Priscilla, but I would disagree. It stands on its own as a wild comedy with thoughtful characters and slapstick moments. The unexpected cast is perfect: Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes, and John Leguizamo. Their road trip is in small town America. Both emotionally moving and upbeat, it is that rarity: a feelgood film.
2004 brought us Saving Face, a family dramedy about a lesbian trying to come out to her traditional widowed mother and her grandparents. The love affair between the two women at the center is nurturing and unusually happy. Set in multicultural New York City, Alice Wu’s film is endearing and enduring.
So, start with these, my dear readers. And stay happy during Valentine’s Day!
Jan Wahl is a Hollywood historian and film critic on various broadcast outlets. She has two Emmys and many awards for her longtime work on behalf of film buffs and the LGBTQ community. Learn more at www.janwahl.com
Off the Wahl by Jan Wahl
Published on January 29, 2026
Recent Comments