Stop That Train! with RuPaul (Nimona) as President Judy Gagwell: Is it fun, or is it a drag?
Similar to the Titanic, this town is letting the first highspeed rail train in the USA take to the tracks, and naturally, it’s all going to go wrong.
In fact, similarity is the key, because this film feels like they’re aiming directly at the Airplane! market and, surprisingly, they’re not too wide of the mark. I first noticed this with the train’s Conductor Davenport (Chris Parnell – The Hawk), who behaves like he’s Peter Graves in that film, initially reading out some announcements to the passengers, before continuing into lamenting over the end of his marriage, still over the tannoy.
For want of a plot, Tess (Ginger Minj) and DeeDee (Jujubee) find their company, Stank Rail, has collapsed and, conveniently, since two of Glamazonian Express’ employees haven’t turned up, they instantly have a new job.
Cue plenty of overly silly sight gags, such as when back at base, after Donna Dusk (Rachel Bloom – The Devil Wears Prada 2) has told everyone the train is heading into a Stormaganza, one of her colleagues asks, “Can you give me that in English??” – so she gives a more plain explanation. Then another asks “In Spanish?” – which she does, and another, “In Mandarin?”, and so on.
Similarly, when Davenport asks her, “Is this a joke?”, she replies, “Check your control panel!”, and when they look, it now displays, “THIS IS NOT A JOKE”.
But amongst this and similar humour, it does actually work.
Elsewhere amongst the cast is a kid who’s a day trader – and has deadly scorpion that’s about to cause a load of problems, and Sarah Michelle Gellar (Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come), basically as herself, and annoyed that no-one recognised who she is.
And with the President’s approval ratings tanking, it’s down to Rupaul to save the day.
But Stop That Train! works far better than expected because, like in the Airplane films (and Top Secret!) – which I found far better than the so-so Naked Gun movies – everyone plays it straight, rather than treating it like a comedy. As such, while it’s not great, it triumphs over last year’s awful The Naked Gun reboot.
mid video?
NOTE: There are some mid- and post-credit scenes, as per the video below.
Stop That Train! is in cinemas now, but isn’t yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD. However, once announced, it will appear on the New DVD Blu-ray 3D and 4K releases UK list.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 90 minutes
Release date: August 21st 2026
Studio: Bleecker Street
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Rating: 6.5/10
Director: Adam Shankman
Producers: Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, RuPaul Charles, Adam Shankman
Writers: Christina Friel, Connor Wright
Music: Jacques Brautbar
Cast:
President Gagwell: RuPaul Charles
Tess: Ginger Minj
DeeDee: Jujubee
Amber: Brooke Lynn Hytes
Ayshleiygh: Symone
Alli: Marcia Marcia Marcia (as Marty Lauter)
Donna Dusk: Rachel Bloom
Barbra: Latrice Royale
Cal: Brian Jordan Alvarez
Conductor Davenport: Chris Parnell
Famous Actress: Sarah Michelle Gellar
Chet: Evan Mulrooney
Unaccompanied Minor: Asher Alexander
Horny Divorcee: Missi Pyle
Amelia: Angeria Paris VanMicheals
Press Secretary: Matt Rogers
Chic Woman: June Diane Raphael
Bickering Husband: Jerry O’Connell
Bickering Wife: Nicole Sullivan
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.