Wasabi Tuna 2005

In the midst of a bewitching Halloween evening in West Hollywood, California, a quintet of friends - interior designers Evan (London) and Harvey (Cheng), stockbroker Dave (Meadows), spinning instructor Fredrico (Sabàto), and Emme (Ubach), a fashion enthusiast with a flair for classic cinema - find themselves in the midst of a chaotic adventure. Their annual tradition of participating in the West Hollywood Halloween Parade on Santa Monica Boulevard, renowned for its unapologetic revelry, has become an integral part of local folklore.

As the night before All Hallows’ Eve descends, this merry band of friends is faced with the daunting task of deciding upon their costumes for the grand spectacle. Evan and Harvey, a couple of femme gay boyfriends and business partners, propose a sushi-themed getup that they affectionately dub “wasabi tuna.” Emme, however, suggests a more edgy approach - donning the garb of gang members. In a surprising twist, they all opt for the latter, but their search for authentic attire at local stores yields nothing but disappointment.

In a moment of desperation, they decide to seek out real-life gang members in order to achieve the desired, straight-from-the-streets look. Little do they know that this decision will set them on a path fraught with peril and hilarity. Harvey’s interior design work for an enigmatic Armenian client, whose illicit dealings are shrouded in mystery, inadvertently puts them at the center of a drug trafficking ring. When they’re eventually apprehended by authorities, a comical exchange ensues as they attempt to talk their way out of trouble at the West Hollywood sheriff’s station.

Meanwhile, Dave ventures into East Los Angeles, where he crosses paths with Romeo (Díaz), a real gang member. He makes a deal with Romeo to borrow his prized Porsche in exchange for his lowrider gang car. However, this seemingly harmless swap precipitates a series of events that leads to a drive-by shooting scene filled with comedic moments. Unbeknownst to them, they’re also unwittingly carrying an illicit cache of weapons.

As the chaos unfolds, reality TV star Anna Nicole Smith (appearing as herself) finds her beloved pet dog, Sugar-Pie, has gone missing. A group of drag queens - Santa Ana Anna (Arquette), Eenie Anna (Gil), Brown Sugar Anna, and Hot Spicy Anna - mistakenly believe that Harvey is responsible for the canine’s disappearance and join forces to retrieve Sugar-Pie for Smith, plunging the already tumultuous situation into further pandemonium.

As the night wears on, the revelry turns to mayhem as a motley crew of gang members, drug dealers, drag queens, and law enforcement officials converge in hot pursuit of the partygoers. The streets of Chinatown become a battleground as the disparate factions clash, with the enigmatic Mr. Ling (Cheng) pulling the strings from behind the scenes in his partnership with the cunning Armenian drug lord. Tensions escalate until the very air is electric with anticipation, culminating in a spectacular showdown that pits personalities against one another.

The ensuing free-for-all street fight is a sidesplitting spectacle, as gang members, drug dealers, undercover DEA detectives, and a trio of sassy female martial arts gymnasts join forces with the Santa Ana Annas to engage in a no-holds-barred battle royale. Fists fly, feet kick, and wigs are tossed about as the combatants go toe-to-toe, their antics leaving onlookers agog.

Just when it seems things can’t get any wilder, Anna Nicole Smith herself makes her dramatic entrance, her signature blend of sass and sparkle saving the day in a way that’s equal parts hilarious and heroic. With a wink and a smile, she puts an end to the Sugar-Pie shenanigans, hands over the drugs to the authorities, and invites the entire gang to her Halloween bash, where they’ll don their “wasabi tuna” costumes and dance the night away under the stars.