The Birdcage (1996)
Also known as "Birds of a Feather "
Come as you are
Starring: Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, Nathan Lane, Dianne Wiest, Dan Futterman, Calista Flockhart, Hank Azaria, Christine Baranski, Tom McGowan (II), Grant Heslov, Kirby Mitchell, James Lally, Luca Tommassini, Luis Camacho (I), Andre Fuentes
Director: Mike Nichols
Running Time: 117 minutes
US MPAA rating: N/AUK BBFC rating: 15
Comedy, Romance
On DVD This tale was originally brought to the big screen in 1978 under the title 'La Cage aux Folles'. This 1996 Hollywood remake is effectively the same as it's Gallic parent, only with two crucial advantages: 1. Hank Azaria's in it. 2. It's not French.
It's the story of a flamboyant middle-aged gay couple - Armand (Robin Williams) and Albert (Nathan Lane) - who both run and live above the gaudy tranny-packed 'Birdcage' nightclub. There's trouble a-brewing when Val (Dan Futterman) - Armand's son from a misguided one-night stand 20 years previously - announces he's set to get hitched to girlfriend Barbara (Calista Flockhart). Unfortunately, Barb's dad's a right-wing senator who's leading a Coalition for Moral Order and has a nasty habit of lobbying against same-sex marriages. He's also Gene Hackman, but that's beside the point.
So Val somehow convinces his overly-accommodating father to tone down the mincing, wipe off the make-up and take that horrific phallice-shaped sculpture off the mantelpiece for a couple of hours while the in-laws come for a visit. From there on in it's archetypal comedy farce time as Armand, Albert and Val struggle to keep the truth from slipping out in front of their somewhat conservative dinner guests.
Williams is surprisingly reserved in his part, leaving the camp-as-Christmas stuff down to Lane, who obviously knows what he's doing in such territory. But it's the afore-mentioned Azaria, as Agador the Latino housemaid, who invariably steals his scenes and makes this a much more watchable movie in the process. The other higher-profile cast members do manage to provide a few decent laughs, but overall it's a fairly average comedy and is a tad mushy in places for my tastes. Apart from which, you'll wonder why Williams' character doesn't simply tell his houseguest where to stick his prejudices. Perhaps Armand just doesn't have it in him.
DVD Extras: Just a trailer on the disc itself - there is a mildy interesting booklet inside the cover though.
It's Got: Calista Flockhart in pre-'Ally McBeal' mode.
It Needs: To be more consistently funny.
Alternatives: La Cage aux Folles, Mrs Doubtfire
Summary: A well-cast comedy which isn't really as funny as it probably should be - but worth seeing for Hank Azaria's performance alone.
Review by Gary Panton
Review Date: 7th March 2003
External Links
The Birdcage at the IMDB
Comments3 Comments |
| I agree that "The Birdcage" is worth seeing for Hank Azaria's performance alone! One of my favorite scenes is Agador bopping around the room, simultaneously housecleaning and singing "She Works Hard for the Money" ("eee-eee, eee-eee"). omg, TOO hilarious! Hank Azaria's timing and delivery, as usual, are impeccable, perfect, wonderful! He is one of my favorite character actors of all times, proving the old adage that "there are no small parts, only small actors". As Agador, just as he did in his small role as the dog walker on "Mad About You", he had me rolling in the aisles! As for the rest of "The Birdcage", you are right that it should have been funnier, yet it was very enjoyable and delightful. The cast outshines the script, for sure, but the point is, they do indeed shine and make it well worth seeing. Nathan Lane is brilliant and his character is wildly wonderful, Robin Williams in a unique role as "straight man" (even though his character is gay *lol*) is great, and even the setting in Miami Beach is captured captivatingly and really shows the flambouyance and whimsy of that area and mileau. Great movie, I say three and a half stars for the sheer enjoyability factor alone. Sure, it is light fare and, like you point out, why in the heck doesn't Armand just stand up and say "Enough already, this is ridiculous!" at some point, but then again it is a classic farce and ridiculousness is all part of the bargain! The Birdcage is FUN! |
| Comment by:- Edna W. | | 18 August 2004 | ip: logged |
| For the life of me I can't understand why you two think it needs to be funnier. It can't be any funnier! This is my favorite comedy film of ALL TIME. My husband and I still watch it 2-3 times per year and laugh hysterically every time. I have never seen more flawless acting by all concerned. There is no one in the movie who shouldn't be exactly where he or she is. The roles are cast to perfection. All of the leads -- Williams, Lane, Hackman, Hershey, Azariah, Futterman, Baranski, and Flockhart, are superb beyond belief. We are constantly amazed at how outstanding this movie continues to be, time after time. I don't think a movie this perfect can ever be made again. My favorite scene (and it's very hard to choose) has to be in the kitchen with Armand and Val yanking the cooking sherry bottle back and forth between them, sweating and cursing. Other faves are the scene with Katherine and Armand, and Albert waiting in the lobby powdering his nose, the receptionist biting her lip, etc., Agador in the pink bra and cutoff shorts, and Armand trying to train Albert to be masculine: "put your pinkie down!" And we can't forget the bowls! Greek boys playing leapfrog! Best acting on the planet. |
| Comment by:- Lori Campbell | | 04 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| Great movie with many happy movielines that some you can see at http://www.waycooltshirts.com Great for gifts! |
| Comment by:- sg brix | www.waycooltshirts.com... | 01 November 2004 | ip: logged |
