Bree Osbourne has been a woman trapped in a man's body all her life. She has come to the decision that will change her forever and perhaps live a happier life, than the one she has led up to that moment when we meet her. Unfortunately for her, fate intervenes in a way she didn't even planned upon.

Duncan Tucker, the director and writer of "Transamerica", takes a difficult subject and expanded on it. This is not exactly what any Hollywood films dare to present to a general audience since it deals with a frank approach to a subject that is not commonly seen treated so honestly and with so much integrity. Mr. Tucker shows a respectful restraint in the way he shows his story that is never shocking, or in one's face.

"Transamerica" is basically a road movie. It takes us to New York, first, where Bree has come to bail out the son, Toby, she never knew about, but who appears to be a real person, and he stands in the way, since Toby, the young man, is suddenly her responsibility and she must face the consequences. "Transamerica" is a cross country trip where two people get to spend some time together as they travel this vast country from New York to Los Angeles.

Toby, a male hustler working the streets of Manhattan, questions Bree's motives because he doesn't want any part of what she proposes to him. First, a stop to see his step-father is something he would rather not do. He doesn't have any happy memories of a man that has abused him sexually while he lived at home. Toby, for all his street smarts, evidently doesn't even guess what Bree is really like until an incident where he discovers the truth.

"Transamerica" is a film about discoveries. Bree is at first horrified when she is told about Toby. Little by little, her instincts start smoothing things over, until she accepts the teen ager as a part of herself. The relationship between them flourish along the highways where they are seen traveling and make them come closer together, as they should.

The best thing to see the film is because of the wonderful job Felicity Huffman does in her portrayal of Bree. The actress disappears in the role in ways one couldn't imagine. The mannerisms of the trans gender woman are captured almost effortless by Ms. Huffman, who carries the film on her shoulders and runs away with it. Her performance is nothing but perfection.

Kevin Zegers plays Toby, the son Bree knew nothing about. It's a credit to this young actor to blend perfectly with the more experienced Ms. Huffman and making this young man true to life. The supporting playing by Fionnula Flanagan, Burt Young, Elizabeth Pena, and Graham Greene, among others, compliment the film well.

The credit for presenting this film belongs to the courage of Duncan Tucker, who wrote a beautiful screen play and then directed with love and understanding for a thorny subject.

All I knew about this was that it was about a transsexual, that the leading performance was by a woman playing a woman that used to be a man, and that it was an independent film, I had wanted to see it for some time, I'm glad I did eventually. Basically Sabrina 'Bree' Osbourne (Golden Globe winning, and Oscar nominated Felicity Huffman) is a conservative Transgender woman due to have a vaginoplasty in one week. Bree receives an expected phone call from 17-year-old Toby Wilkins (Kevin Zegers),he has been jailed in New York City, he asks for Stanley Schupak (Bree's birth name),who he claims is his father, he was born from her one and only sexual encounter with a woman. Bree was unaware she had a son and wants to renounce him, but her therapist Margaret (Elizabeth Peña) refuses permission for her operation if she does not confront her past before making her new future. Bree flies from Los Angeles to New York and bails Toby out of jail, Toby is a foul-mouthed runaway, a small-time drug dealer and a male prostitute, his mother committed suicide when he was a child, he was raised by his stepfather, whom he does not want to see. Bree pretends to be a Christian missionary and persuades Toby to travel with her back to the West Coast, she secretly plans to leave him at his stepfather's house on the way, it turns out Toby's stepfather was very abusive and molested him several times in his youth. Bree is dismayed with her failed plan to leave Toby, so they continue driving together to Los Angeles, they also stop along the way at a Dallas house where a group of transgender women (many are Bree's friends) are hosting a gender pride gathering. Later on in the trip Bree pulls over to urinate, Toby accidentally discovers that Bree has male genitalia, he is angry at first that she had not told him prior to his unintentional discovery, but he tries to be open-minded about it. They pick up a Hitchhiker (Grant Monohon) on th way, the next morning he steals their car and money, so Bree and Toby hitch a ride, Toby makes some money by prostituting himself, he tells Bree he got the money from selling drugs, they also hitch a ride with kindly rancher Calvin (Dances with Wolves' Graham Greene). They eventually reach Bree's parents' house in Phoenix, Arizona, here lives her pampered and self-centred mother Elizabeth (Yes Man's Fionnula Flanagan),her Jewish father Murray (Rocky's Burt Young),and her rebellious and sarcastic sister Sydney (Carrie Preston). Elizabeth disapproves of Bree's transsexuality, they have been estranged for some time because of her transphobia, but she is astonished she has a grandson, Toby likes Elizabeth's kindness and the luxury, she even invites him to live with them, but he does not like how disrespectful they are to Bree. At night Toby approaches Bree, he realises he has feelings for her and tries to seduce her, saying he will marry her if she wants, but he is appalled when Bree finally reveals that she is his father, infuriated he steals money and valuable antiques and leaves overnight. Devastated Bree returns to Los Angeles, with a plane ticket bought by her parents, her family finally accept her being a woman and calling her Bree, and she undergoes a successful surgery to become a full woman, but she is unhappy she will never see or hear from Toby. Some months later Bree is surprised when Toby comes knocking at her door, he has turned 18, bleached his hair blonde and become an adult actor for gay pornographic films, Bree meanwhile has found happiness working as a waitress at a restaurant, they reconcile, seemingly happy to see each other. Also starring Venida Evans as Arletty and Danny Burstein as Dr. Spikowsky. Huffman, best known as a star of Desperate Housewives, gives a brilliant performance as the pre-op transsexual facing up to parental responsibilities and going through both an emotional and physical journey, it is a traditional road movie with a quirky twist, a weird and mixed but affectionate relationship between former man father and son, it makes you laugh at the right moments, it does have awkward moments, but overall it is a great comedy drama. It was nominated the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Song for Dolly Parton's "Travelin' Thru". Very good!

Bree Osbourne (Felicity Huffman) is struggling to convince a psychiatrist to allow her to get sexual reassignment surgery. She gets a call from NYC jail inmate Toby Wilkins (Kevin Zegers) claiming to the son of her former self Stanley Chupak from a tragic lesbian fling. She finally gets approval from Margaret (Elizabeth Peña) but she has to reconnect with her son first. Toby is a petty criminal hustler. Bree pays the $1 bail and pretends to be a Christian social worker. Toby's mother is dead and he doesn't get along with his stepfather. He is looking to go to L.A. to become a porn actor. She reluctantly drives him on a Transamerican road trip.

Felicity Huffman creates such a compelling, endearing character. Her performance is note-perfect. She develops great chemistry with Kevin Zegers. It's a heart-warming funny road trip with a twist.