Transamerica

Name: Transamerica
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Comedy
Released: December 2, 2005
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 66
Cast: Felicity Huffman, Kevin Zegers

2005

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 74 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 74 Ratings

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Transamerica

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Movie Details & Credits

IFC Films | Release Date: December 2, 2005 | R

Starring: Felicity Huffman, Kevin Zegers

Summary: Bree (Huffman) is a perfectly adjusted conservative transsexual woman. Born Stanley, a genetic male, she's about to tale the final step to becoming the woman Stanley always wanted to be - until she finds out that she is the parent of a long-lost 17 year-old son (Zegers). Afraid to tell the rebellious teenager the truth, Bree embarks on aBree (Huffman) is a perfectly adjusted conservative transsexual woman. Born Stanley, a genetic male, she's about to tale the final step to becoming the woman Stanley always wanted to be - until she finds out that she is the parent of a long-lost 17 year-old son (Zegers). Afraid to tell the rebellious teenager the truth, Bree embarks on a journey with him that will challenge and change both their lives and bring them closer to the truth of their connection. (The Weinstein Company / IFC Films)… Expand

Director: Duncan Tucker

Genre(s): Adventure, Drama, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 103 min

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Critic Reviews

Michael Sragow

Until it detours into dysfunctional-family comedy-drama, Transamerica rides cross-country without ever running low on bracing, cactus-spined surprises. Read full review

Joel Stein

But the most impressive thing is how, a few minutes into the film, you stop noticing Huffman's external transformations and start to focus on the character. Not that the external stuff isn't impressive. Read full review

Jami Bernard

This drama offers a chuckle at every turn. Read full review

David Edelstein

Farce born of sadly irreconcilable impulses: Bravo! Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

The unintended effect of all the melodramatic complications in Transamerica is, oddly, to distract attention from an understanding of exactly what that courage really costs. Read full review

James Berardinelli

As much heralded, "edgy" movies go, Transamerica fails to live up to expectations. Read full review

Lawrence Toppman

By the way, the other thing that keeps Transamerica from being a mainstream movie is its obsession with penises: showing them, talking about them, placing us in bathrooms and trailers when they're in use. Read full review

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User Reviews

michaelb.

Dec 7, 2005

Huffman gives an incredible performance blending pathos, intelligence and wit perfectly. The script is quite good and the soundtrack is a real plus.

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JarodT

Jan 6, 2006

Top notch performance by Felicity Huffman... she deserves an oscar!

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VickiW.

Aug 15, 2006

One of the best films I've ever. Huffman had me convinced she was a man playing a woman - an oscar caliber performance. I loved everything about the film. It was tender, funny, sad, warm and wonderful. I feel superb acting is rare - Huffman proved there are still actresses/actors that One of the best films I've ever. Huffman had me convinced she was a man playing a woman - an oscar caliber performance. I loved everything about the film. It was tender, funny, sad, warm and wonderful. I feel superb acting is rare - Huffman proved there are still actresses/actors that are willing to take the risk and throw themselves into a character 150%. Cudos to Huffman and the filmmakers. Not to forget the other actors, they are all great. I don't know who Kevin is, but I'd love to see him in a lot more films. He's wonderful. This film is a rare gem that should not be missed.… Expand

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!GBY

Dec 2, 2005

It shuld be more american movies like this. Un-condescending, smart and not self indulgent. Mr Tucker chooses to show a very wit drama that can be wisely funny instead of lecturing us. His directon is consistent and tight and Mrs Huffman performance is remarkable. Excellent debut!

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JimG.

Jun 25, 2006

Well told story with interesting characters. Hard to suspend belief enough to imagine Felicity as a man, but definitely enjoyed her performance. [spoiler] One disappointment in the screenplay is the predictable mother figure. While Fionnula Flanagan is an incredible actress, it's a Well told story with interesting characters. Hard to suspend belief enough to imagine Felicity as a man, but definitely enjoyed her performance. [spoiler] One disappointment in the screenplay is the predictable mother figure. While Fionnula Flanagan is an incredible actress, it's a shame she didn't have a better script to work with. Maybe it is a case of stereotypes existing because they're shaded with truth, but I wonder how much more compelling this film would have been if the mother figure landed somewhere else on the bell curve.j Wonderful soundtrack of acoustic and americana music.… Expand

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DawdlingPoet

Nov 24, 2021

For a start, this movie isn't as graphic as you might fear it to be, much in the same way as Brokeback Mountain isn't, yet it does provide some awkward scenes and generally it'll be awkward viewing for some, most even because its tackling a somewhat taboo subject.

Watching the behaviourFor a start, this movie isn't as graphic as you might fear it to be, much in the same way as Brokeback Mountain isn't, yet it does provide some awkward scenes and generally it'll be awkward viewing for some, most even because its tackling a somewhat taboo subject.

Watching the behaviour between 'Bree' and Toby it is, of course, very tense - although Toby isn't fully aware of who 'Bree' is until quite late on in the story. This is of course where the whole denial aspect comes from, as its enough of a shock for Toby when he accidentally discovers that 'Bree' isn't entirely a 'she', put it that way, although there's more to the denial theme than that - especially when later on in the story, Toby is confronted with 'Bree's parents, not realising that their actually his grandparents. Watching how they react to their son, almost daughter, returning home (as the 'prodigal son', as his sister Sidney calls him), it is quite painful at times, they clearly don't understand things from 'Bree's point of view, although I also understand why their sad, especially given a couple of things that he says to his mother, so there's definitely a strong element of family turbulence there. Toby is an interesting character, he is very private and while he isn't quiet to point out Bree's 'shortcoming' once he realises he's been lied to, he also has his own secret he keeps which becomes apparent later on. While he may be angry, he also clearly has an element of blind faith in ultimately agreeing to accompany Bree and befriending those that they come across as they travel across the US. It was quite interesting to see how Toby reacted when he was presented with a room full of other transgender people, at that point not realising that 'Bree' was one of them. When 'Bree' dismisses these people, he defends them, which is nice in as much as I'd hope that the younger generations may be more tolerant of such people but then its sad as well as once the story unfolds, it turns out that ultimately he doesn't like 'Bree' because of the fact that s/he had lied about who s/he is, that hurt more than his true identity. Whether he walks away from 'Bree' or not I won't say, I wouldn't like to give away the full story, it is quite complicated but I thought that it was interesting to see how it unfolded and the messages that the movie brought across through the story. I think most people would probably agree that we have our secrets that we keep from members of our family for fear that it would perhaps offend, hurt or digust them, when it needn't be that way. I also found it quite interesting how Bree interacted with some of the other characters, there are some interesting people that they come across, now whether they guess about Brees transgender status or not im not sure but it is interesting, I wonder if there's an element of highlighting that certain states, places or people are perhaps less bothered about such things, im not sure.

I think its perhaps one of those movies you watch and then afterwards you may find yourself reassessing any family feuds you may have had and suchlike, well in as much as I found it to be a thought provoking movie. Felicity Huffman and Kevin Zegers definitely do give good performances as their characters, both hiding their own secrets and having awkward body language but clearly secretly depending on each other for their own reasons. I wouldn't say, however, that this movie is without its flaws as far as the story is concerned, as I did find myself questioning it at times, mainly because I thought it was a bit convenient that Toby seemingly didn't realise 'Bree's status or that s/he was related to him, yet he agreed to trust 'her' and trusted in some of the people that they meet on the way with seemingly blind faith. I did feel that something was off with that, if it had been me I would have asked her alot more questions - especially after the first time that they veered off the designated route to LA and he was confronted with his step father, which was a tense situation to say the least, so there was a believability issue I felt which let the movie down a bit, at least thats what came to my mind as I was watching it.… Expand

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TomDuck

Jan 17, 2006

While I enjoyed Felicity Huffman's very fine performance, one good turn does not make this a recommendable film. The story was aimless at times and the writing was slipshod. I could see her - and her young male costar - attempting to work around the holes and thin, pat, "aint we a While I enjoyed Felicity Huffman's very fine performance, one good turn does not make this a recommendable film. The story was aimless at times and the writing was slipshod. I could see her - and her young male costar - attempting to work around the holes and thin, pat, "aint we a krazy bunch of family!" But overall, I could have just as easily skipped it.… Expand

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