12 Classic Movies That Got Away With Problematic Scenes

Aren’t transwomen both funny and disgusting? That the dated idea at the heart of Ace Ventura’s villain reveal.

Upon discovering that the villain is a transgender woman (predictably played by a cisgender woman with a bulge in her underwear), everyone starts to throw up. That’s it. That’s the whole nuance of the scene. Even Joe Rogan, a right wing radio DJ who typically goes against the idea of PC culture has condemned the movie as ‘insanely transphobic’.

Family Guy goes a similar route with Brian throwing up over Ida, and that too feels lazy and cheap. That’s not to say transgender jokes need to be off limits though.

Family Guy is much better on Ida’s return. Lois refuses to let Ida use the bathroom, which while in the same ballpark, is much more subtle and more indicative of actual attitudes.

Likewise, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia gets away with saying ‘tr*nny’ as the whole point is that the gang is deplorable, and their depiction of Carmen is brilliant.

Meanwhile, The Silence Of The Lambs is inelegant in its portrayal of Buffalo Bill, but trips over itself to explicitly tell you Bill’s not transgender, just a maniac.

Ace Ventura’s though is a massive miss with modern audiences.