There are not a surplus of films about drag performers. Sure, there are quite a lot of movies in which actors in the film dress up in drag such as (i.e. Mrs. Doubtfire, Some Like It Hot, White Chicks). But movies about drag queens, kings and others whose art and passion revolves around the practice, are much less prevalent. Movies that take place in Alaska are also not too common, especially when the setting isn’t just used as a snowy backdrop.
So Alaska is A Drag, which both of these qualities can be applied to, is quite the special film. Just based on it’s basic premise there are very few films like it; and the film takes advantage of its one-of-a-kind combination. The only place where Leo (Martin L. Washington Jr.), our protagonist, can obtain gowns for his drag is essentially a lost and found for items left on boats. There’s only one gay bar within a hundred miles of his hometown and it’s depicted as being almost empty constantly. It’s a fascinating portrayal of how subcultures, in this case drag, endure in a community that hinders its very existence.
The plot of Alaska is a Drag sees Leo, a young, ambitious drag performer who has found himself rotting away in rural Alaska, balancing his passion for drag with boxing with doing whatever he can to get him and his sister, Tristan (Maya Washington), out of Alaska and to Los Angeles to follow his dream, as well as possibly reconnect with his mother (Nia Peeples). The largest arc of Alaska is A Drag, getting out of Alaska, is solidly set up and wraps in an unexpected but sweet manner. It’s smaller arcs throughout the film aren’t wrapped up or as paced as well. A prime example is the drag competition that plays out like it should be the suspenseful, emotional climax of the film precedes the wrap-up of almost every other major arc.
Even if all of the arcs weren’t paced perfectly, the stellar leads really did make the journey worth it. Leo as Alaska’s lead has enough charisma to shine throughout the entirety of the film. Washington Jr. brings so much charm, emotion and versatility to Leo. His on-screen relationship with Maya Washington, who plays Leo’s sister, Tristen, is especially a joy to watch; their own daily routines, inside jokes, and believable close bond really makes them a dynamite brother-sister duo.
Almost all of the majors roles, and some of the more minor ones, like aging, flamboyant drag queen Hal AKA Mistyque (John Fleck) and Leo’s boss and boxing coach (Jason Scott Lee) were played really well. The only slight dud of a performance was Leo’s love interest, Declan (Matt Dallas). Near the end of the film his performance does see an uptick, but for the first half of the film, his acting comes across as amateurish. He doesn’t turn in that bad of a performance, but when his other half in the film is performing as well as Washington Jr. does, even the slightest of flaws are magnified.
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