Transamerica places a strong focus on transgender identity, with the lead character's journey deeply tied to trans issues. While the story is personal, much of the film’s narrative is built around ideology and identity exploration rather than letting character traits or merit take the lead. This approach can seem heavy-handed, potentially sacrificing narrative depth for advocacy.

The movie often questions and challenges traditional conceptions of gender, family, and even elements of religion, presenting them as sources of conflict or misunderstanding. In our view, these cultural foundations are depicted as outdated obstacles, while newer values are celebrated or idealized.

There is some nuance in how characters react, but dissenting views are mostly limited to misunderstanding or bigotry. Traditional perspectives aren’t sincerely explored or validated; alternative viewpoints are generally dismissed or caricatured, resulting in a strong ideological slant throughout.