Connie and Carla – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Connie and Carla

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2004

38%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Two lounge singers witness a mob hit and hide out as drag queens—a 2004 comedy that hasn't aged particularly well.

43%

→

Connie and Carla

movie

PG-13, 2004

38%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Two lounge singers witness a mob hit and hide out as drag queens—a 2004 comedy that hasn't aged particularly well.

43%

Jump to

Also rated on

43%

View →

Where to Watch

Loading streaming options...

Where-to-watch data byJustWatch

Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is one of those movies that seemed like harmless fun in 2004 but really hasn't aged well. The premise—straight women hiding from the mob by pretending to be drag queens—treats drag culture as a costume rather than authentic expression, which feels appropriative and tone-deaf by 2025 standards.

The critics weren't impressed even at the time (43% on RT), and modern viewers will likely find it even more cringe. It's trying to be Some Like It Hot but lands somewhere closer to "why did they think this was a good idea?"

There are some genuine moments of friendship and the musical performances are fine, but the whole thing is built on a problematic foundation. If you're looking for thoughtful representation of LGBTQ+ culture or even just a comedy that holds up, skip this one. It's not offensively bad, just dated, shallow, and honestly pretty forgettable—which might be the harshest verdict of all.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media suggests 15+, which feels about right given the mob violence premise, sexual humor, and complex themes around identity and deception. That said, this is really more of an adult movie that most teens would find boring and outdated—it's a relic of early 2000s comedy sensibilities.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The film centers on friendship and finding yourself, with the leads supporting each other through adversity. However, the entire premise involves deception (pretending to be drag queens when they're cisgender women), which creates ethical complications. The tone is generally light and comedic rather than mean-spirited, but the cross-dressing-as-disguise trope feels dated and potentially problematic in 2025. Models some cooperation and loyalty between friends.

Imaginative

The premise of witnessing a mob hit and going undercover as drag performers has some creative spark, but the execution is fairly predictable rom-com territory. It doesn't particularly invite viewers to think differently or explore new ideas—it's mostly a paint-by-numbers comedy that borrows heavily from Some Like It Hot and other gender-disguise comedies. The dinner theater setting offers some musical performance elements but nothing groundbreaking.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates this for 15+, suggesting moderate content concerns. The premise involves mob violence (witnessing a hit), though this is likely played for comedy rather than graphic detail. The romantic subplot and drag performance context likely include some sexual humor and innuendo. The main safety concern is the potentially confusing or outdated representation of drag culture—the film treats drag as a costume/disguise rather than authentic expression, which could perpetuate stereotypes. No indication of graphic content, but the mob violence premise and likely PG-13 humor keep this from being truly safe for younger viewers.

Enriching

The film touches on themes of identity, acceptance, and finding community, particularly within LGBTQ+ spaces. However, the 2004 treatment of these themes is dated—using drag as a disguise rather than exploring it authentically limits the depth. There's potential for discussions about authenticity and acceptance, but the film's comedic approach and problematic premise (straight women appropriating queer culture for survival) undercut meaningful enrichment. The 43% RT critic score and 44 Metacritic suggest critics found it shallow. Audience scores are higher (70% RT audience, 6.3 IMDb), indicating it's entertaining but not particularly substantive.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Celebrates friendship and loyalty between the two leads who support each other through wild circumstances
Features musical performances and dinner theater scenes that showcase talent and showmanship
The drag community is portrayed as welcoming and vibrant, even if the film's treatment is dated
Light, escapist comedy that doesn't take itself too seriously—audiences liked it more than critics (70% vs 43%)

⚠

What to Watch For

The entire premise treats drag as a disguise/costume rather than authentic expression, which feels problematic and appropriative by 2025 standards
Opens with mob violence (witnessing a hit) that drives the plot
Likely contains sexual humor and innuendo typical of PG-13 comedies from this era
The romantic subplot involves sustained deception that might send mixed messages about honesty
Honestly just feels dated—the humor, the premise, the treatment of LGBTQ+ themes all scream early 2000s

Conversation Starters

"What do you think about the way the movie shows drag performers? Does it feel respectful or more like they're making fun of it?"
"The main characters lie about who they are for most of the movie—when is it okay to hide the truth, and when does it become a problem?"
"How do you think this movie would be different if it were made today instead of 2004?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic