15 Movies Where the Token Straight Friend Is the Comic Relief

As a movie lover, I’ve noticed a really interesting shift happening on screen. For ages, we’ve had the ‘Gay Best Friend’ – a character whose main purpose seemed to be supporting the straight lead or providing a quick joke. But lately, filmmakers have started turning that trope on its head! Now, we’re seeing straight characters dropped into queer stories, and it’s often hilarious and surprisingly insightful. These ‘straight in a queer world’ characters can really point out how silly some of our usual expectations are, or just act as someone completely out of their depth. I’m excited to share some films that use this dynamic brilliantly – they manage to be funny and move the story forward in ways I didn’t see coming.

‘Theater Camp’ (2023)

Troy unexpectedly finds himself running his mother’s quirky drama camp after she falls into a coma. Completely new to the world of musicals and theater, he’s a total outsider. The humor comes from his attempts to use his business sense to manage a lively and unconventional group of queer artists. Because he doesn’t know anything about theater, he constantly causes funny misunderstandings and clashes with everyone at camp.

‘Bottoms’ (2023)

Marshawn Lynch plays a hilariously detached teacher, Mr. G, who unknowingly oversees a secret fight club for lesbian students. He’s mostly seen reading adult magazines and saying things that make no sense, providing a funny contrast to the energetic and chaotic girls he’s supposed to be watching over. The movie uses his confusion and lack of interest to create some of its funniest scenes.

‘Happiest Season’ (2020)

Jane is the quirky middle sister who always tries to smooth things over in her very proper family. While not the main romantic interest, she’s incredibly memorable thanks to her strange fantasy novels and awkward social skills. She provides much-needed comic relief during the emotional drama between the central couple and their parents, and many viewers consider her playful personality the best part of this holiday rom-com.

‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’ (2010)

Scott and Wallace share a room, but they couldn’t be more different. Wallace is effortlessly cool and popular, while Scott is clumsy and struggles with dating. The movie playfully flips expectations by portraying Wallace, who is gay, as the sensible one, and Scott, who is straight, as the chaotic and immature friend. Scott often turns to Wallace for advice, and his naiveté provides a lot of the film’s comedy.

‘Chasing Amy’ (1997)

Banky Edwards is the boisterous, often confrontational, friend who has trouble adjusting to shifts in his friendships. He provides comic relief through exaggerated reactions and a lack of understanding about different sexual orientations. The story uses his character to highlight how easily harmful ideas about masculinity can crumble when confronted with queer relationships. He’s a chaotic contrast to the more thoughtful and self-aware romantic leads.

‘Pride’ (2014)

The film centers around a heartwarming and funny encounter between a group of Welsh women and visiting LGBTQ+ activists. Despite their different backgrounds, the women welcome the activists with open arms and a surprising sense of humor. Through honest questions and genuine efforts to connect, the characters find common ground and create a charming story about building solidarity and learning from one another.

‘To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar’ (1995)

Carol Ann is a quiet, unfulfilled housewife who discovers her confidence after befriending three drag queens who end up stuck in her town. She represents the typical viewer, initially surprised and a little lost by the dazzling world of drag. The comedy comes from watching her change and learn, and her story lets the film explore themes of freedom and self-discovery from a relatable, straightforward perspective.

‘Kinky Boots’ (2005)

Don begins the story as a stubborn factory worker who clashes with the new owner and their drag queen designer. As the story unfolds, he becomes a comedic figure, hilariously struggling to grasp and accept the changes happening at work. His eventual involvement in the fashion show is a funny and satisfying conclusion to his personal journey. The film cleverly uses his traditional, masculine views to create humor around themes of acceptance and adapting to change.

‘The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ (1994)

Bob is a kind and accepting mechanic who travels across the Australian Outback with a group of drag queens. He’s genuinely interested in their world, and his down-to-earth personality offers a sense of stability alongside all the glamour. The humor comes from his honest conversations with the queens and his desire to look out for them. He shows that acceptance can happen even in the most unexpected situations.

‘Connie and Carla’ (2004)

Jeff plays the role of a brother who hasn’t spoken to his family in a while. He unexpectedly finds himself in a drag club and is thrown off by the performers’ disguises. His clumsy attempts to understand the situation, combined with his developing feelings for one of the performers, lead to many funny moments. The movie uses his unfamiliarity with the drag scene to create both tension and humor, as it highlights the secret identities of the main characters. Essentially, he’s the perfect straight man to play off the elaborate deception the protagonists are trying to maintain.

‘Victor/Victoria’ (1982)

King Marchand is a hardened gangster whose world is turned upside down when he develops feelings for a drag performer. He starts to question his own identity and desperately tries to figure out the performer’s true gender, leading to increasingly absurd and funny situations. The film uses his inner turmoil and confusion as the basis for much of its humor, portraying a breakdown of traditional masculinity in the face of gender fluidity.

‘In & Out’ (1997)

Cameron Drake, a reporter, arrives in a small town to report on a scandal involving a high school teacher. He’s a cynical observer, constantly surprised by how quickly things spiral out of control. The movie uses his fresh perspective to show the over-the-top media frenzy and the town’s extreme reactions, letting the audience see the unfolding chaos through his humorous, straightforward point of view.

‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ (2005)

Harry Lockhart, a small-time thief, unexpectedly finds himself embroiled in a Hollywood murder case with private investigator Gay Perry. The story is told through Harry’s unreliable and often frantic perspective, contrasting with Perry’s calm and capable demeanor. Much of the comedy comes from Harry constantly getting into trouble and needing to be rescued by Perry, which playfully flips the typical action movie hero dynamic of the time.

‘The Birdcage’ (1996)

Senator Kevin Keeley is a very serious, traditional politician who finds himself completely out of his depth at a wild dinner party. His strict beliefs and fear of controversy make him an easy target for the film’s playful trickery. The comedy reaches its height when he unknowingly tries to cope with a house full of drag queens and over-the-top decorations. His inability to understand what’s really happening is the source of much of the movie’s humor in the final act.

‘Some Like It Hot’ (1959)

Jerry pretends to be a woman named Daphne, and surprisingly, he feels more at ease in this disguise than his accomplice. The comedy arises from his down-to-earth personality contrasting with the traditionally female environments he enters while trying to evade gangsters. He’s a funny character who actively plays along with the ridiculousness of his situation, rather than simply enduring it. The movie is well-known for ending with a line that playfully rejects his effort to reclaim his male identity.

We’d love to hear your suggestions! Share movies in the comments that include a funny, heterosexual character as part of a story centered around LGBTQ+ experiences.

2025-12-06 18:52