Movies

Review of “Fishnet”

Fishnet is an outrageous, burlesque-fueled romp that combines elements of Thelma and Louise and Sister Act, with a camp factor approaching near-John Waters levels. With a delightfully over-the-top cast and a plot that would make any 80s screenwriter proud, it’s the goofiest lesbian movie this side of Better Than Chocolate. It’s also one of the most fun, with a surprisingly touching story tucked behind all the jokes and theatrical posturing.

It all begins with burlesque — a good quarter of the movie’s run time involves dirty dancing — as our protagonists are professional burlesque performers. Trixie (Rebekah Kochan) and Sulie (Jillian Easton) are girlfriends, happily in love and gainfully employed by Lady Jeanette (Emma Messenger), an absolute cartoon character who runs the bar and the dance troupe.

After an initial routine complete with nipple tassels, we’re thrust into the dressing room where the regulars are properly introduced. Olga (Zabeth Russell), a Russian caricature with an accent straight out of Rocky and Bullwinkle, snipes at our leading ladies while Lady Jeanette fights with a mobster named Vinny, (Michael Cohen in full on Goodfellas mode.) In a panic, Trixie grabs what she believes to be a prop gun and threatens Mr. Mobster, trying in vain to protect her beloved boss.

Long story short, Trixie ends up shooting a few not-so-staged bullets at Vinny. She and Sulie take off to Texas, where the pair plans to hide out with Sulie’s folks, avoiding the law and the mob. Trixie’s none too pleased by the arrangement, especially since she has to pretend to be Sulie’s “roommate” while they’re around Mom and Dad — her girlfriend’s parents turn out to be hardcore conservatives. Meanwhile, Sulie’s little brother, Junior, is just about bursting out of the closet himself.

Dinners with the family turn out to be hilarious culture clashes, with Mom and Dad misunderstanding the meaning of “organic” and Junior gasping and giggling at every gaffe.

Soon, the couple goes out seeking a good time, and head off to a tiny local bar run by the rather charming Annie (Patricia Villetto). It doesn’t take long for the ladies to start dancing, and with Annie’s prompting, they decide to get an amateur burlesque group going.

This is where we veer into some hardcore Sister Act territory. The “audition” scenes are a gas. We meet mousy Mary-Lou (Melanie Devaney) and the horny, loudmouth Angela (Meghan McLeod). Like all of the characters in the film, these ladies are about as subtly drawn as an Andy Warhol painting — and every bit as colorful.

Angela, in particular, is a lot of fun. All innuendo and bawdy storytelling, she comes off strong, but she most definitely has a heart of gold. Later in the film, she asks whether Sulie and Trixie are lovers and sweetly gushes, “You know I’m cool with it!”

Meanwhile, a flamboyant police officer named Officer Dick (Conor Lane) investigates Trixie’s original assault, mostly by flirting with Olga. Vinny and his blundering sidekick Tony (Arman Torosyan) have their own investigation going, making Trixie the “It” girl in every sense of the word.

The story takes a surprisingly poignant turn when the women spend more time with Sulie’s folks. Faster than you can say “family drama,” things start to get more serious than the hee-haw stereotypes we were first introduced to. We learn the real depth of the relationship between Sulie and her mother in scenes that are nearly hanky-worthy in their sincerity and sheer power.

It’s an unexpected pathos in a film that spices up gunshots with a sparkle effect, and underscores each scene with comically over-the-top music. That’s precisely what makes those sequences so effective.

Like so many LGBT films, the production values are decidedly indie, with some iffy lighting and camera work. However, the dance choreography is fantastic and the production design is wonderful — the ultra-campy world of Fishnet is highlighted with bright sets and colorful costumes. In every way, watching the film is akin to viewing a particularly unhinged “black box” theater production or burlesque show.

The performers are having a ball, and aside from the aforementioned scenes with Mom, no one’s taking anything very seriously. Despite the fact that most of the characters are really just wacky caricatures, everyone is likeable and the villains fun to hate. Olga isn’t onscreen too often, but she is hilarious — her “takeover” of the LA troupe is a wonderful disaster involving burst balloons and nastily placed ping-pong balls. Lady Jeanette steals every scene. Carol Lurie stands out as Sulie’s surprisingly deep and sympathetic mother. Nathan Hall’s take on Junior is a lot of fun; an adorable, walking gay stereotype that, once caught playing with lipstick, tries to pretend it’s ChapStick.

The relationship between Sulie and Trixie is the biggest draw. Both actresses are gorgeous, and have sexy, sweet chemistry as a couple. They also talk like a real couple, sparring playfully at times and swapping love and kisses at others. It doesn’t hurt that they’re both fabulous dancers as well.

Ultimately, your mileage with Fishnet will vary according to your affinity for high camp. If sparkles and goofy sound effects give you a headache, this film will probably cause a migraine. But if you like your comedies cute, snappy and drowning in glitter, you’ll have as much fun watching it as director Brian Pelletier clearly had making it.

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