Hurricane Bianca

Hurricane Bianca (USA, 2016; 82 minutes)

Director: Matt Kugelman

Batten down the hatches, Hurricane Bianca is striking Reel Q’s big screen!

New York native Richard (Roy Haylock, better known as Bianca Del Rio) has been offered a job as a science teacher in a conservative town in Texas. Full of optimism, Richard is disappointed to find that his new gig includes disruptive students, an antagonist vice principal (SNL’s Rachel Dratch), and blatant anti-gay discrimination. When everyone finally learns Richard himself is gay, he’s booted out.

Desperate for work, he reapplies in drag as Bianca Del Rio and gets the job. What the small Texas town gets in return is a whirlwind of Bianca’s biting wit, characteristic putdowns, tough love, and a few surprises as well.

In the grand tradition of gender-switching classics like Tootsie and Mrs. Doubtfire, Hurricane Bianca plays with gender, identity, and one man’s quest to find himself. There’s a large — and fabulous — supporting cast, such as Alan Cumming and favorites from RuPaul’s Drag Race, including Willam Belli and D. J. Pierce — not to mention the queen of them all, RuPaul. Trans actress Bianca Leigh gives a heartfelt performance as Karma, a trans woman with secrets of her own.

Never taking itself seriously, the film should please fans of Bianca Del Rio and gain new admirers as well. Hurricane Bianca is indeed a force of nature.