FILM: TAKING THE CHILDREN; He Who Saves The Day Gets The Princess

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, John Leguizamo Directed by Beeban Kidron PG-13: : 108 minutes

Three New York drag queens, on their way to a Hollywood beauty contest, get stalled in a tiny, back-road Midwestern town. The local folk are aghast at the amount of mascara, polyester and moxie displayed by these "career girls." But then the visitors give the local women a crash course in glamour and gumption and teach the men a thing or two about how to treat a lady. Tolerance -- and fashion sense -- rule the day. VIOLENCE: An abusive husband takes a pounding at Mr. Swayze's manicured hands and a sheriff -- who is trying to have his way with one of the "ladies" -- is knocked to the ground and left for dead. SEX: Much innuendo, but no real action. PROFANITY: Moderate. For Which Children? AGES 3-11: Probably not. No "Mrs. Doubtfire," this film is about bona fide transvestites, not straight men in women's clothing. There is too little broad comedy and not enough basic information for children who haven't mastered Intro to Sex Ed. AGES 12 and up: Why not? They may find it refreshing to see an action hero, a leading man and an urban comic tackle prejudice -- in pumps, no less. Be advised, though, that the film will prompt plenty of questions about sexual identity. PATRICIA S. McCORMICK