Essentially, this is a love story about a straight male mobster who falls for a straight female--who passes as a gay male (and female impersonator). The mobster wants the female to quit the cabaret and become a "good" woman (marry him and stay home) but she wants to enjoy her success, career, and her subsequent, new found male privilege even though it means living as a gay male.
Victor Victoria is of the era of Tootsie and Cruising, but does things so much better. Tootsie doesn't hold up very well and Cruising has its own problems. Here, gender and sexuality are playfully complicated and confused. While gender could easily be made a running gag, Edwards' avoids reducing drag to a schtick. I was surprised at how progressive the narrative and dialogue was since the film feels like a 1960s Hollywood musical set in the 1930s with adult content from the 1980s. It's fun and funny, and doesn't feel dated. Overall, the films' treatment of gender and sexuality is remarkably thoughtful.
Andrews and Garner are incredible, and Alex Karras as "Squash" Bernstein gives a stand-out performance--he's utterly delightful.
Victor Victoria was nominated for 7 Oscars and won for Best Music.
5/5