The Birdcage is a remake of Poiré's La Cage aux Folles, name of a club on Palm Beach, the controversial part of Miami where all the gay community is "free" to express itself.
The concept of this comedy is pretty simple:there is very few non-gay characters which turns all our society's pillars upside down making us feel "how would it be if..." The scenario is rather predictable. The Birdcage boss' son is willing to get married...to a girl. Of course the father and his companion (the word "parents" couldn't get through my mind) face a mental breakdown.
On the other hand, the young girl is the daughter of a deputy (deceiving Gene Hackman) trying to get to the Oval Bureau through a bill restoring all the conservative values that have made America. Last but not least, it is well known that parents want to meet before the big day, right? You feel this?
All right, the scenario, as simple as it is, brings some punch and the Tootsie-like situations are funny (I mean, Spartacus is goood=), but the director, after playing a bit on straight/gays confrontations leaves us watching some looking-real gay marital talks, mother-feeling-like men and looses a bit control on the story's ending, especially throughout the D-dinner. Gags become less and less funny, less and less tasty (what was with that crucifix?seriously?). Nathan Lane gives us the worst performance with his poor (over)acting and being a key-character during the whole movie, annoys us just more and more.
However, and I know it is kindda weird for me to admit it, but the movie stays O.K all along. It's a matter of how you see things, but I think a movie like Brokeback Mountain has a lot more influence on the society's way of thinking than this movie.
A modern Tootsie, 25 years later, or a Some Like It Hot 50 years later, with the same faked innocence.
Funny, but should it be?
Verdict:
Rated? you have to be old enough so as not to think these characters are behaving normally. No way you should let kids watch that, they would ask you a looot of questions during AND after the movie.
Worth watching? there is some work here so this comedy IS actually funny.
Final Grade 15/20
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