In & Out (1997)

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

Other than what must have been a desperate measure on the part of Kevin Kline for taking on the title role, there is nothing good about this movie. For my taste and sensibilities this film is truly out in left field somewhere. It's not that the acting is bad...it's the story that I simply do not and cannot fathom...and I happen to be gay! It is said that this piece of brilliance was hatched from a true story concerning the acceptance speech given by Tom Hanks, upon winning his best actor Oscar for "Philadelphia." During the "Let me thank everyone for everything that has happened throughout my life" phase it seems Mr. Hanks accidentally outed one of his teachers and another student in the bargain. So, here we have the premise for "In & Out," presumably a spoof on that "Oooops" moment, but even as a spoof it fails. It's simply not tongue-in-cheek enough, funny enough or ridiculous enough to cover the territory. Using the same backdrop as the original incident, the Academy Awards, and with many, many fine uncredited stars appearing, the writer offers up a very well respected, well liked teacher and coach as the outed victim. He is from the mid-west and is just about to be married to a "Twinkie" eating and overfed, Joan Cusack. It seems that on Oscar night, the entire population of the town is watching the broadcast because a native son is up for the award for Best Actor and they are suddenly catapulted into a world they know very little of because of his acceptance speech. There doesn't seem to be any other closeted or suspected homosexuals in the town...and certainly no one that is out! OK...fair enough, but from here the story takes on an Oz like twist. Our outed teacher does not lose his fiancé, friends, family or the support of his students and while he does get fired from his teaching job, comes back "to support his students" at graduation and sits on the stage with the school officials! Scores of reporters descend upon the town to cover this news "event" and one of the reporters (Tom Selleck) turns out to be gay! There is neither horror or hilarity at this unveiling, however, and our teacher tries to show he is not gay. He is being married in just a few days and the wedding is still on. In all the situations set up to make one laugh, the writer falls short of his intended reaction. In the scene with the priest we should have roared, the scene listing the many tips that might have revealed his sexuality should have made us fall down in laughter, his fiancé's continued befuddled reaction to all of it, the revelation that he has never slept with his intended and his hasty attempt to do so before the nuptials, the bachelor party replete with blow-up doll and good-old-boy innuendo, his parents puzzled reaction and ongoing stiff upper lip demeanor, the eventual wedding service when he finally utters the dreaded words..."I'm gay"...all should have us sitting with tears rolling down our cheeks from laughter but it all went for nothing. In all, it would seem his only real penance is that he ends up not winning the "Teacher of the Year" award! There is but one very funny moment in the film and that is when the lady who uses a walker is dancing to "Macho Man" by The Village People near the end of the film. Paul Rudnick, who wrote the screenplay, is himself a gay man and, as such, I cannot understand his treatment of the subject matter. This should have been a hilarious piece for both the homosexual and heterosexual communities and might have brought them closer together, through laughter, as co-inhabitants and neighbors in a crazy world. The film has not accomplished that either. Mr. Rudnick just didn't capitalize on the funny scenarios he, himself, created because he gave all of them short shrift. I only know that I bought the film, watched the film and am selling my copy as soon as humanly possible to some poor unsuspecting movie goer who cares naught for quality, truth or real comedy!.

This is one of the most horrible films I've ever seen. It's like watching a black liberation film from the 1920s. Yes massah, I is a real person too. I would say I threw up in my mouth a little, but it was frequent enough that I actually had to use the toilet.In all seriousness, I suppose this is reflective of how sad mainstream America was about gay issues only 15 years ago. Everything about the film is trite and clichéd. The writer (who is gay I guess) and Frank Oz directing are the definition of cowardly. For Christ's sake, the ending is supposed to be funny because you think there might be a gay wedding but, it's just the straight parents renewing their nuptials (haha! gotcha! you can relax). The fact that the cast includes so many famous names only serves to embarrass them, who I'm sure considered themselves at the vanguard for courageously accepting the roles. Congratulations Bob Newheart, you're not so old after all! It's a lesson about tepid pedantry. Anyway, I'm off to stab myself in the throat. Goodbye, cruel world.

What a waste of time this movie is. The acting was good, but so what? It had me grimacing at most of the unfunny dialogue and stereotypical characters. According to this movie, any man who likes Barbara Striesand movies is gay, and they brought this up three times or more, I mean, sheesh, it wasn't funny the first time, why repeat the "joke"?The whole movie just seemed like some cut and paste scenario we've seen it so many times before, town gets outraged about the main character for whatever reason, then, oh, surprise surprise, they all come round and stand by him in the end, he's a really great guy, we all love him, so what if he's gay, blah blah blah blah blah.... So corny, so boring.

In 'In and Out', Kevin Kline plays a repressed gay teacher inadvertently outed by a former student on national television. (The Oscars, no less) He finally comes out with the truth - at the altar on his wedding day. Of course there is a happy ending with him accepting his sexuality, the townfolk accepting him, and, as a sort of bonus prize, his ending up with Tom Selleck, the most perfect man in the universe. Sounds just like real life, doesn't it? Of course a movie can't shatter stereotypes without depicting a few. Our hero is a neat freak and obsessed with Barbra Streisand. His pals even show 'Funny Lady' at his bachelor party. (Odd, most of the gay guys I know are a bit on the sloppy side and can't stand La Streisand.) At times this movie is so sweet your teeth ache, but it is saved by hilarious performances by Joan Cusack as the bride-not-to-be and Matt Dillon as the former student. And Tom Selleck is about as handsome and charming as a human being can be. Oh, and to really up the cute quotient, there is a quartet of little old ladies dacing to Macho Man with their walkers.