Red Lipstick

If John Waters directed Bonnie and Clyde as an homage to the Laverne & Shirley, the result would be something like the hysterical Red Lipstick. Incorporating the manic approach of The Monkees and the camp aesthetic of the 60s Batman TV series, this heist movie in drag is a laugh riot from wig to stilettos. Hedda Lettuce and Miss Understood are a pair of none too glam drag queens, down on their luck and living the low life. A not particularly bright scheme to reinvent themselves as Bonnie and Bunny, bank robbers in daring frocks, rockets them to fame and finally gives them enough cash to hire a posh Eastern European Interior Decorator specializing in rococo. But all is not feather boas and sequins. The envy of Brenda, bitchy Morticia Adams clone, and Violet, a whip wielding dominatrix, looks like ruining the party. Not to mention Frankie, psychotic toxic waste magnate and underworld honcho, who has his eye on the gals' booty, er, money. Preposterously kinetic and colorful, every frame in the worst possible taste and a hundred below the waist gags make Red Lipstick a vibrant, low budget, lowbrow comedy. Look out for Debbie Harry in an outrageous cameo, as Ezmerelda the alcoholic psychic. Discover your feminine side!

This film was such a mess. Unprofessional, poorly acted and shot, and lacking in anything close to a cohesive script. Obviously the makers had an idea to make a low-budget drag queen flick that had a John Waters feel or something - but they've totally missed the target with this effort. A lack of budget is never an excuse these days to produce such poor cinema. I've rarely been so bored.

In time, this motion picture will be a global 'cult-classic'. For anyone who's ever seen 'Hedda Lettuce' perform live @ Caroline's Comedy Club; or, 'Miss Understood' perform at The Pyramid Club; or, have ever been to the Wigstock Festival; this film will certainly be appreciated for it's outlandish premise; the hysterical performances of the actors; and for the witty tongue-in-cheek banter of the main characters. If one realizes that the whole purpose of the film is Humor (NOT to be taken Seriously); then, and only then, might one 'get it'. The Premise: 'Two NYC Drag Queens go an a Bonnie-and-Clyde bank-robbing spree and share the loot (well...some of it, at least) with the Homeless; thereby becoming Public Heroes whilst being pursued by the NY Police and a Rival Gang. However, there are complications. Example #1: Neither of Drag Queens want to be 'Clyde'. Enjoy!

Thank God that the prior comment and I are NOT in disagreement. Jown Waters is one of the worst film-makes that ever lived. Just getting anything campy or trashy on the screen is not considered film-making. This film (contrary to the prior review) shows more hope and promise than all the work John Waters ever put together - don't get me started on Pink Flamingos, Hairspray, Ricky Lake or any of that garbage - it remains unworthy of mention. For a careful film enthusiast this film hides a few nice surprises if you're ready to put up with 70 minutes of gook to see 12 minutes of good film-making. Obviously a beginner's luck but well deserved - it does show promise - unlike Waters. Give this same film maker another 60 million dollars and something good will come out. Following that logic if I give my cat 35 million dollars something good may come out too. Thanks, but no, thanks. Yeah, low budget, right. What exactly was Spielberg's budget for The Duel? Less than low. How about Copola's budget for Apocalypse - he had to get a 2nd and 3rd mortgage on his own home - so low budget can not fly these days. Even with low budget a person can make good worthwhile (and artistically well formed piece of work).