Transamerica

2006

Transamerica

Critics Consensus

A terrific performance by Felicity Huffman carries this unconventional but touching transgender road movie.

77%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 138

83%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 68,035
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Transamerica Photos

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Movie Info

The first film by Duncan Tucker, Transamerica stars Felicity Huffman as a pre-operative transsexual named Bree (whose given name was Stanley). One week before going under the knife, Bree learns that she fathered a boy who is now 17 and is in trouble with the law. Bree would like to ignore this information, but is forced to meet the young man, Toby (played by Kevin Zegers), by her analyst Margaret (Elizabeth Peña), who will not allow the surgery to happen unless Bree meets him and confronts this aspect of her past. Upon meeting, the son believes that Bree is simply a do-gooder. She buys a car and the two road-trip back to her home in Los Angeles, Bree all the while attempting to keep from Toby the truth of the situation. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
  • Rating:
    R (for sexual content, nudity, language and drug use)
  • Genre:
    Comedy, Drama
  • Directed By:
    Duncan Tucker
  • Written By:
    Duncan Tucker
  • In Theaters:
     limited
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $8,713,873
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Weinstein Company

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Cast

Felicity Huffman
as Bree Osbourne
Kevin Zegers
as Toby Wilkins
Fionnula Flanagan
as Elizabeth Osbourne
Graham Greene (II)
as Calvin Manygoats
Elizabeth Peña
as Margaret
Burt Young
as Murray Osbourne
Carrie Preston
as Sydney
Venida Evans
as Arletty
Kevin Zeggers
Jon Budinoff
as Alex
Raynor Scheine
as Bobby Jensen
Grant Monohon
as Hitchhiker
Amanda Addams
Bianca Leigh
as Mary Ellen
Danny Burstein
as Dr. Spikowsky
Craig Bockhorn
as Police Sergeant
Maurice Orozco
as Fernando
Kelly O'Connell
as Kelly
Andrea James
as Voice Coach
Calpernia Addams
as Calpernia
Paul Borghese
as NYC Cop
Sandi Alexander
as Sandi
Stella Maeve
as Taylor
Teala Dunn
as Little Girl
Jim Frangione
as Taylor's Father
Melissa Sklarz
as Melissa
Felicia Kittles
as Felicia
David Harrison
as David
Forrie Smith
as Sammy
Elayne Stein
as Phoenix Lady
Amy Povich
as Phoenix Cop
Burton Elias
as Male Nurse
Cecy
as Filipino Nurse
Matt Young
as Wayne
Barbara Hubbard Barron
as Ms. Swallow
Lou Lou
as Gas Station Dog
Zero T. Poodle
as Lucky
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News & Interviews for Transamerica

Indie Spirit Awards Distributed
2005 Oscar Nominations Are In!
Golden Globes Results – It Rhymes with "Chick Flick"
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Critic Reviews for Transamerica

All Critics (138) | Top Critics (40)

  • It's funny in spots, touching in others and uniformly life-affirming.

    Feb 2, 2006 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Jeff Strickler

    Minneapolis Star Tribune
    Top Critic

  • Huffman's performance redeems parts of the movie but, until the final 30 minutes, Transamerica too often feels like a journey to nowhere.

    Feb 2, 2006 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

    James Berardinelli

    ReelViews
    Top Critic

  • Transamerica is a routine road-trip comedy-drama with a twist.

    Jan 27, 2006 | Rating: 3/5

    Roger Moore

    Orlando Sentinel
    Top Critic

  • Huffman's performance in Transamerica, as a pre-op male-to-female transsexual coping with the sudden emergence of a long-lost son, is much better than the movie it's in; indeed, she singlehandedly takes Transamerica to a higher plane.

    Jan 20, 2006 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

    Moira MacDonald

    Seattle Times
    Top Critic

  • It's a farce with heart, a meditation on identity, family and gender politics that has real faith in its characters -- even when the characters themselves lack it.

    Jan 20, 2006 | Rating: 3/4

    Steven Rea

    Philadelphia Inquirer
    Top Critic

  • As Bree, who started her unhappy life as Stanley, the angular Huffman, a fine comedic actress who carried home an Emmy this fall, is a compelling portrait of wounded dignity. She is wholly fascinating and heartbreaking.

    Jan 20, 2006 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Connie Ogle

    Miami Herald
    Top Critic
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Audience Reviews for Transamerica

  • May 12, 2014
    Huffman's portrayal of transgendered person is remarkable. Unfortunately the acting triumph is wasted by a bit of wishy washy sentimentality.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Aug 29, 2013
    One of my favourite films, essentially an American version of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, filled with surprising characters and tongue in cheek jokes. Felicity Huffman is simply remarkable in her performance, so does Kevin Zegers. The complexity of the drama is so immense, it's something that everyone should watch.
    Sylvester K Super Reviewer
  • Jul 19, 2012
    Lovely movie. Huffman was awesome as the sensitive Bree. Interesting how they chose a woman for the part instead of a man, but it totally worked. I like how the emphasis isn't on the transgender theme, but in growing as a person and connecting with other people.
    Saskia D Super Reviewer
  • Jul 22, 2010
    Theoretically, I should love this movie. Huffman's performance is honest and uninhibited, complete with a crying scene that rivals Viola Davis's leaky nose. However, to quote the guy standing in line in Annie Hall, it failed "to hit me on a gut level." I think a further comparison to Doubt is in order. Both films are technically strong, but the lack the creative, raw energy that we see in There Will Be Blood and The Wrestler (other movies featuring a strong lead performance).
    Jim H Super Reviewer
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