The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
    • Shows & On demand
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureCinemaShows, on demand & home video

Stage Mother

Stage Mother | Movie review
16 November 2020
Sophia Moss
Avatar
Sophia Moss
16 November 2020

Movie and show review

Sophia Moss

Stage Mother

★★★★★

Release date

16th November 2020

Certificate

UPG121518 title=

Links

TwitterInstagramFacebookWebsite

“If a man says he likes it rough, kick him in the balls and see if it’s true.” Stage Mother tells the story of Maybelline Metcalf, a small-town Texas church choir director who inherits a gay bar when her estranged son dies of a drug overdose. While initially dubious, Maybelline quickly embraces her late son’s community and ends up taking an active role in transforming the club from failure to success.

Stage Mother is a sweet story about some hard topics. It’s schmaltzy and some parts – such as the mother’s quick transformation from homophobe to ally, and the way she is easily able to help a queen overcome drug addiction – don’t ring true. The obstacles are a little too easy to overcome, but it’s optimistic, positive and gives viewers a sweet message of reconciliation and acceptance.

The script is otherwise fairly strong and the characters, while still relying on stereotypes to some extent, are warm and genuine. The costumes (which develop from sparkly leotards and period costumes to an elaborate, multimedia extravaganza) don’t show all that drag is capable of, but give a window into this dynamic culture; wshile the wardrobe department don’t reinvent the wheel, there are some nice numbers in there. The way the queens develop their skills feels authentic – they won’t be winning Ru-Pauls Drag Race, but it’s great to watch them develop their vocals and put on a great show.

Stage Mother tells an uplifting story about a beautiful community with an important message of hope. It isn’t great cinema, but the fact that it exists is in itself something to celebrate.

★★★★★

Sophia Moss

Stage Mother is released digitally on demand on 16th November 2020.

Watch the trailer for Stage Mother here:

Related Itemsclubgay barlgbtqreviewstereotypesTexas

More in Cinema

Assassins: Exclusive new clip

The editorial unit
Read More

Schemers

★★★★★
Jake Cudsi
Read More

The Queen of Black Magic

★★★★★
Musanna Ahmed
Read More

Coded Bias

★★★★★
Ghazaleh Golpira
Read More

The Capote Tapes

★★★★★
BP Flanagan
Read More

The Dig

★★★★★
BP Flanagan
Read More

The Filmmaker’s House

★★★★★
Ella Satin
Read More

Assassins

★★★★★
Dan Meier
Read More

Synchronic

★★★★★
Guy Lambert
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Movie and show review

Sophia Moss

Stage Mother

★★★★★

Release date

16th November 2020

Certificate

UPG121518 title=

Links

TwitterInstagramFacebookWebsite

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • We Still Fax at ANTS Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • We Ask These Questions of Everybody: An interview with Amble Skuse and Toria Banks
    Theatre
  • Start the year right with these eco-friendly vegan and vegetarian food deliveries
    Food & Drinks
  • The Capote Tapes
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Hello Cosmos – Dream Harder
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Green stars, two female chefs at the top and a controversially quick award: This is 2021 UK Michelin Guide during the pandemic
    Food & Drinks
  • Assassins: Exclusive new clip
    Cinema
  • Identifying Features
    ★★★★★
    Uncategorised
  • Schemers
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Away: An interview with animator Gints Zilbalodis
    Interviews
  • Green stars, two female chefs at the top and a controversially quick award: This is 2021 UK Michelin Guide during the pandemic
    Food & Drinks
  • Identifying Features
    ★★★★★
    Uncategorised
  • Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Identifying Features
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • We Still Fax at ANTS Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Premiere: Lara Smiles new video for Oh How, see it first in celebration of World Kindness Day
Hannah Grace – Remedy | Album review