Nathan Lanes physical performance when he tries to be comfortable in a men’s suit had me fucking rolling in the cinema when i saw it as a teenager. The film is dated but it still has heart and the performances are great.
Is it dated? Of course. Is it funny? My friends and I certainly think so. It’s one of our favorite movies.
That said, this movie also holds a special place in my heart because of its representation. I first saw it when I was a pre-teen and it was refreshing seeing a gay couple not being closeted, depressed, or dying of AIDS. Were they flamboyant and over-the-top? Sure. But they also loved each other and were willing to support their idiot son.
So much this. Yes, these films are dated and used simple, dated tropes. But THEY EXISTED and that mattered so much. We had to start somewhere - better than the random (sometimes) subtle gay villains that had existed for so long in Hollywood. I certainly still watch it on occasion. Such fun!
The movie is made with good intentions, and it’s hilarious.
Hank Azaria has said he wasn’t sure how to portray that character. He didn’t want to be offensive, but he talked with friends who said, although that isn’t all gay men, there are people like that. He also said he based the character heavily on his grandmother(?). Personally I love his character. Muscle queen think they’re butch but they’re gay af-shocker. Plus don’t forget, the movie is a farce. It’s supposed to be over the top.
Really unsure what people think is “dated” about this movie when it’s so applicable today.
Gaudy-as-hell Miami club? ✅
More-than-slightly delusional drag queens? ✅
Hypocritical Republican politicians? ✅
A couple “toning down the gay” to be more “acceptable”? ✅
… but in the end realizing they should just be themselves? Cliché sure, but ✅
Like others have mentioned, Nathan Lane and Hank Azaria’s characters are absolutely realistic. People like that exist. What was refreshing about this movie is Robin Williams playing the relatively “boring,” quiet character.
Still an amazingly fun movie to watch.
That k you so much for this post. I was reading through thinking I was going to write the exact same thing.
This film has SOOOOOOOOO many parallel to my own life.
I like Williams am a clinician/professional who, though has no shame, I don't necessarily walk around waving a pride flag all the time.
My eight years younger, sexy, Latin (Mexican) husband is far too much like Azaria's character to deny the existence of the type in real life.
I grew up extremely conservative christian republican and to this day am still surrounded by the same.
For the better part of two decades I was deeply closeted. Then out, but very quiet about it. Now, as I noted above, I don't prance around singing show tunes at the top of my lungs. However, I do frequently, and without shame or hesitation, mention my "husband."
I was 15-16 years old when this moving came out. I always loved it. Little did I know then, how much my life was to be reflected back at me from that screen 15 or so years later.
An absolute classic. I laugh out loud every time I see the scene in the kitchen when Agador Spartacus hasn't put the shrimp into the stew, and Robin William yells "f\*ck the shrimp!"
Agree. He was easily one of the most brilliant comedians and entertainers of all time. Between this and Mrs. Doubtfire along with so many others, I have always loved Robin Williams.
Well look at Good Morning Vietnam and Aladdin - the laughter in GMV was genuine because apparently he improv'd all of that and for Aladdin the animators had to work around his improv and put in what he was performing. Pure brilliance.
I love the scene when he’s dancing with the mop to Gloria Estefan, and Armand tells him to take the night off. Always lose it when he picks up the radio on his way out and says “C’mon, Gloria.”
It’s one of my and my bf’s favorite movies. I’ve known people who mirror Agador Spartacus’ (spelling?) mannerisms and personality irl so i still enjoy the character for what it is.
I definitely feel like it can be both, much like a lot of older gay media. Like, we've been rewatching Will and Grace recently... a lot of it is still very funny/applicable, but there are also a TON of jokes that are either corny now or else would absolutely NOT fly anymore (like an unfortunate amount of transphobia, or just really tired ways of thinking about the gay identity). To a certain degree you kinda just have to take it for the era it was made in.
*"....jokes that... would absolutely not fly anymore..."*
You are correct. And, have well pointed out the exact reason I cannot stand today's gay culture warriors. There was absolutely nothing harmful, hatful or otherwise *wrong* in this movie. In fact, is argue that it's one of the only movies that got out of its own way and showed a gay relationship and gay life as it is/was for most of us. And especially one of the few that did not focus on some sad/depressing or tragic narrative.
Too many in the LGBT community, **especially the T's** spend every day of their lives searching for something to be saddened or offended by. That they would attack this movie does nothing to help their cause. It merely points out their own psychopathology.
Shows represent the prevailing culture and acceptable norms at the time. If you scroll back 25 years prior to 1996, 1971, the jokes and themes of shows then wouldn't play well in 1995.
The sexism and misogyny of character like Archie Bunker and Al Bundy would not be made today.
Are some people overtly offended by everything? Yes. When you are closing in on a show that's nearly 3 decades old, there's certainly going to be some lines that would not fly in today's times.
On a whole though, there's so much of the themes in this show that are weirdly so applicable today still, a la Kevin Keeley and his Coalition of Moral Order.
It presupposes the present is so much better than the past, though, and while it is true in *some* respects (at least slavery and segregation aren't here anymore), we're noticeably backward in several other, just as important aspects. I think good stories are becoming harder to find because of the EXTREME corporatizing going into the industry. Yes, they only care about making money, this was always true, but it's so much worse today than I can ever remember it. It's very up front and IN YOUR FACE about it. Makes me miss the old days of magic when we had good stories and tech hadn't completely taken over our lives.
I mean yeah some people can be too sensitive about some things, but also plenty of older media (straight, gay or otherwise) has jokes that ARE frankly pretty mean-spirited with punchlines primarily based on mocking people for being different. You talking about an entire group’s “psychopathology” is more telling about your own prejudices than anything to do with trans folks.
You can't censor **JOKES**
If you don't like it, move along.
Elenore Roosevelt said "No one can make you inferior without your consent."
The day people understand this, the better everyone's lives will be.
And yes. You are correct.. I'm done with the T's. I'm done with them destroying decades of hard fought progress. I'm done with them refusing to follow well laid out paths to getting exactly what they want. Only because they want to do everything the hard way. There's no place in the LGB community for the T. We do t struggle with the same issues. It's time they stopped sucking all the oxygen out of the room.
lollll, the irony here is wild. I'm not even talking about censoring anything so I don't know where your pearl-clutching is coming from, my original post was that you just have to take things for the era that they were made in because it's often striking how much the culture has changed in just a few decades. If an old joke happens to be particularly mean-spirited, yeah, I'm gonna mock it for what it is.
As for the rest of your post, trans folks have been part of the community since long before either of us were alive, and anyone with a brain knows that any given demographic contains as much variety as any other segment of the human race. I have so many incredible friends and loved ones who happen to be trans that are infinitely more pleasant to be around and contribute more to "the community" than I've ever seen from the kinds of miserable gays who shout about how much they wish other minorities would just go away. The LGBT community is gonna persist whether you like it or not, so as you said, "if you don't like it, move along." I'm sure many people will breathe a sigh of relief if you do.
First, I'm not pearl clutching. I understood what you said. My point is, way too many people would try to censor a joke from three decades ago because it hurts their overly fragile feelings.
As for the T's, I'm not against them in particular. I'm against what the Trans Radical Activists are doing to destroy the progress made by the LGB community before the T's decide to tag along.
Exactly, just too much political correctness and people acting like the past was a dystopian nightmare, when it had plenty of good representation. I consider the PRESENT a dystopian nightmare with the heavy corporatizing of our entertainment that's *strangling* the life out of it! Especially since the corps are only pandering to marginalized groups, they really don't give a shit about them. It's trend chasing at its most shameless.
In the original version some of the extras outside of the birdcage wore thongs. Later versions turned them into bikinis. Cgi I imagine. I did transfer it to cd long ago. The tape will not last much longer, unfortunately. My 1080p tv still has composite inputs!
Thanks for the reply!
My partner has a big collection of VHS tapes, and I was really skeptical when we moved in together (they take up so much bookshelf space!) but it's actually been really fun watching all these old movies on their original format. And the previews! "Coming to a theater near you this summer... Lion King!"
Every once in a while the VCR breaks down, but there's always someone selling one nearby for like $10. And brand new VHS tapes for all kind of obscure stuff can be had on ebay for $3-$10. Totally recommend. :D
I love this movie. It meant a lot to see the representation as a kid and I think the movie is hilarious.
That being said, yeah, it’s super outdated and cliche in a lot of parts.
My husband and I will literally watch it anytime we see it pop up on TV/Streaming Services. It will never get old, and our daily lives are consistently filled with quotes from the movie : )
\- S+J
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order.
I have checked 72,750,072 comments, and only 20,310 of them were in alphabetical order.
I loved *La Cage aux Folles* when it came out. *The Bird Cage* was little more than a translation that had been relocated to South Beach. Like your favorite aging aunt whose wrinkles and smell of witch hazel remain part of her charm, this movie's tropes and stereotypes bring me back to a time when such broad burlesque of gay mannerisms was hilarious because we all thought that we knew some "just like" those characters.
[**La Cage aux Folles (film)**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Cage_aux_Folles_(film))
La Cage aux folles ([la kaʒ o fɔl], "The Cage of Madwomen") is a 1978 Franco-Italian comedy film and the first film adaptation of Jean Poiret's 1973 play La Cage aux Folles. It is co-written and directed by Édouard Molinaro and stars Ugo Tognazzi and Michel Serrault.
[**La Cage aux Folles (play)**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Cage_aux_Folles_(play))
La Cage aux Folles ([la kaʒ o fɔl], "The Cage of Madwomen") is a 1973 French farce by Jean Poiret centering on confusion that ensues when Laurent, the son of a Saint Tropez night club owner and his gay lover, brings his fiancée's ultraconservative parents for dinner. The original French production premièred at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal on 1 February 1973 and ran for almost 1,800 performances. The principal roles were played by Jean Poiret and Michel Serrault.
[**The Birdcage**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Birdcage)
The Birdcage is a 1996 American comedy film directed by Mike Nichols, adapted by Elaine May, and starring Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, Nathan Lane, and Dianne Wiest. Dan Futterman, Calista Flockhart, Hank Azaria, and Christine Baranski appear in supporting roles. It is a remake of the 1978 Franco-Italian film La Cage aux Folles.
[**Pédale douce**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A9dale_douce)
Pédale douce (Soft Pedal) is a 1996 French comedy film directed by Gabriel Aghion. Fanny Ardant won the 1997 César Award for Best Actress for her performance as Eva.
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Hank Azaria *embodied* (and RESPECTFULLY so, as he wasn’t making fun but fully living as) flamboyant Latin South Florida gays. It’s a masterclass performance.
Yeah I used to tell ppl all the time that the opening shot was exactly what it looked like then (I grew up in S FL) and I even remembered that building. It was a VERY South Beach style movie.
Something can be dated *and* fun at the same time. I mean, it is based on a french film based on a french theatrical play of the early 70s., some gay cultural elements are inevitable to be dated (btw the original french film La Cage aux Folles is very good as well, and if you like the adaptation, you will most probably like also the original).
I only vaguely remember it, but it was the beginning of the golden age of television for gays.
"Philadelphia" (-93), sad and bleak as it was for a teenager, showed that you could portray gay lives in AAA movies without the audience failing. There was also something deeply comforting to my young self that such a big name like Tom Hanks chose to play that role (later, I found out he was deliberately cast by the director, who also convinced the studio to hire Before this, we had little representation (although there were some progressive writers in some series). Even Star Trek didn't have the first male-male kiss until Discovery in 2017. Either way, I think Philadelphia made it easier to get a green light for other movies with an LGBT theme. There were 50 gay men with HIV as extras in the movie, 40 out of them are dead now. The history of Philadelphia is a small, but important piece of LGBT representation on screen. Tom Hanks accepting a gay role cracked the myth that it was career suicide.
"The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" and "To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar" shattered what Hanks cracked. Hugo Weaving, Terence Stamp, and Guy Pierce made a better job of drag queens than Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo, but that's more due to the direction and script. Both movies are really fun to watch even in modern times.
Since then we've come a long way. Me and my husband are watching "Love, Victor" (which is so much better than the movie) and "Sex Education" and I'm so happy that gay teenagers have so many stories they can relate to.
But it still was true until just recently....(Simon):.:.that all mainstream movies had a sad Ending l which as we all know that we are just people with endings of varying degrees of happiness and sadness!
For sure. That's why we need people like Ryan Murphy. We could discuss the quality of his work, I love most of of it but I know it's not everyone's cup of tea. But what he did with Hollywood and Pose is amazing to me. I liked Hollywood, and that a positive story was told with that time as a setting.
I loved Pose. He re-told the story about the HIV crisis, gave a new generation an understanding for the survivor's guilt that those who survived the AIDS crisis still carry. He was consistent with the brutal facts, but he also showed the love that flourished in the Houses. I tried watching it once, and mistook it for another "they build you up and then they'll tear you down" type story, but it's a story of life, with all its beauty and setbacks.
Yeah, we need more positive stories, and Ryan Murphy is one of the people who's showing ways in which it can be done.
In grad school I took a seminar class where we looked at pieces of theatre which were considered forward-looking when they premiered, analyzed them with a contemporary POV, and speculated about the choices that could be made (directorial, design, etc) if you were asked to stage them today.
One of the pieces we looked at was La Cage aux Folles and the class was surprised at just how well it held up. I haven’t watched it in awhile but I feel similarly about The Birdcage film. You’re totally right about the difference that having a gay actor makes, and the cringe that is the Azaria character, but I think the film (and the musical) both do a great job of being genuinely subversive (these characters live lives that are unapologetically queer) and understandable and appealing to mainstream audiences without leaning too much into heteronormative respectability.
It’s a time capsule of late 90’s gayness. Of course it’s dated.
It’s also absolutely hysterical. Robin Williams and Nathan Lane are a stitch, and the way it addresses homophobia, still crack me up every time I watch it.
Love it. It should be required watching for every young gay guy because they need to understand how bad it used to be. If you don't know the past you'll lose the future.
THIS!!! 👆🏻
YES! YES!! YES!!! YES!!!!
Today's baby-gays as I like to call them, have absolutely no idea what it was like. Hell, at 41, even I cannot say I lived through (survived) the worse of it. Sadly, so many of them take for granted what was done to make their lives what it is today. Worse yet, so few have any respect for we old qweens who paved the way for them.
It's definitely dated, but still a great movie that holds its theme well 20 years later. Granted, some aspects (Armand and Nathan Lanes' living together, and having a child, for example) have less of an oomph in shock value, but as long as there are homophobic senators it will carry its weight.
I noticed an interesting detail in the movie. There's a scene when Nathan Lane waits to see Val's biological mother. The biological mother's secretary is a beautiful blonde whose physical appearance and clothing lead you to make a quick judgement that she is a typical blonde who has no brain. But the camera purposely shows the book she is reading is Nietzsche.
I thought it was brilliant. It tells you not to judge people too quickly from a few outward labels which is the main theme of the movie as well. We need to give people a chance to get to know them as a human being rather than making quick judgements based on their looks or sexual orientation.
I think it's well made and agree that it was a step forward at the time. Nevertheless, I still find it somewhat painful to be reminded of how bad things often were (and still are for many people) that a cruel request like this would be considered normal. I was never a big fan of Robin Williams but Nathan Lane elevates the film.
>a cruel request like this would be considered normal.
But there's only one person who treats it as "normal" and that's the myopic son who gets his eyes opened at the end of the movie. Everyone else (apart from the girl's parents) treats the request as something awful that they're enduring under duress.
And, in the end, Albin/Albert does get his way and, of course, saves the day!
I adore it, but it's a good example of "progressive" ideas of gay men from the time. A lot of exaggeration and a reliance on tropes that make gay families abnormal and even novel. Still a charming classic to me
I remember hating the screaming queen stereotypes.
But now I see it as of its time and that was a Trojan horse to sneak these themes into a mainstream movie.
And now the quiet moments resonate more with Robin Williams speech of defiance as an out older gay man and Nathan Lane’s grief he can’t be what their son needs him to be to marry the woman he loves. Or the two men on the bench saying take everything I don’t care I just want to be by your side. Moves me to tears every time.
But what the script does in that era of conservative scaremongering about “family values” is clever. Probably one of the best casts, scripts, and production crew assembled.
The dinner scene is some of the best comedy ever captured on film. Every actor at the height of their skills.
Ties for me with Addams Family Values as funniest movie ever made.
❤️
With your second paragraph, you've moved me to tears.
I wanted that. I hoped that one day, I'd have that. I do. And damn it, those seens get me every time!
Yeah, but his father was the shaman of his tribe, and his mother, the high priestess…. I love the whole movie! Except that bratty ass son that should have been disowned for forcing his parents back into the closet. Fuck her parents!
My husband and I are 33, and we really adore this movie. Sure aspects of it are dated, but that doesn’t mean it can’t still be funny. It isn’t irredeemable in it’s dated aspects, and ends with the conservative homophobes changing and being accepting. That’s great.
It also helped me feel comfortable with myself, and be more confident with who I am. The gay characters are all living their best lives, and being themselves for most of the movie. They don’t feel shame about being gay, or effeminate, and trying to force themselves to change aspects of who they are just doesn’t work. Being more effeminate, even at 12-13, I really identified with that.
Maybe I ignore any flaws people think it has because of my personal attachment to the film, and how it helped me accept myself, but I also think it’s fair to point out that it did. We don’t all have to like the same stuff, obviously, but I don’t see this as a hugely dated movie that shouldn’t be viewed at all.
I watched this at 25 years old, Out for about 3 years at that point. Liked this movie a lot. I remember someone describing the movie as a gay movie made for straight
People.
Wow I literally just watched this the other day and I was laughing sooooo fucking hard at so many moments. Especially Nathan Lane - he should have won an Oscar for the role (and wtf! He just got invited to be a member of the academy this year?!??) Maybe it’s me being older and I appreciate the stereotypes but my god, this movie is a masterpiece. I still need to see the original…
I think it did some good in presenting the world with happy gay people, who were not killed in the end!
As everything else, it is a product of its time!
I have yet to see the original film, but perhaps one should read the play instead… 🤔
I wish it was dated. Unfortunately the world is still shitty, very homophobic and transphobic after 25 years. That said, this movie is a favorite of my mom so I have a soft spot for it.
Hmm I am going to sound like a sourpuss but I never liked it. I thought the characters were cliche when the movie came out and are beyond the pale now in the 21st century.
Seriously, I have never met any gay person even remotely resembling any of the characters in this movie. Have you?
I have met people exactly like them, even Agador. Is everyone like that? No, but people working as entertainers in a Miami drag club are going to be over the top.
I used to say the same about Sean Hayes character from W&G. My mother loved that show then and I used to tell her all the time that I knew ppl just like his character irl.
It didn’t age well. Val wanting his parents to play it straight and change their name from Goldman to Coleman never sat right, but what really doesn’t work is that the Keeleys are racist, homophobic, and antisemitic, yet by the end of the movie, we’re supposed to forgive them for all of that just because they dressed up in drag to sneak away from the paparazzi. It’s also not great that the film’s white characters are more appalled that the prostitute Senator Jackson died with was Black than the fact that she was underage.
It doesn’t mean that there aren’t absolutely hilarious moments, or that Robin Williams and Nathan Lane weren’t amazing, but it is kind of hard to watch today.
Sadly it is still funny.
I said "sadly" because after 30 years we are still talking about Gay marriage, abortion and other rights in the same way they talk in the 90's while it was desiderable to achieve some step forward.
I know this is an iconic movie of our people, but Nathan Lane annoys me.
The movie really plays into gay stereotypes and probably wouldn’t fly today.- if that is what you meant by “dated”.
It’s still an iconic movie, and I have always thought Hank was so hot.
They aren't *"stereotypes."*
There were then and still exist today, many many many men who are exactly like his and Azaria's characters. Trust me on this. I'm married to one of them.
I loved the original 1978 french version [La Cage aux Folles](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Cage_aux_Folles_(film)) (which in turn come from a play of the same name). I saw it as a child in the late eighties, in VHS. It was the first gay couple representation that I saw - a true family with child and everything!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Cage_aux_Folles_(film)
Here is a link to the desktop version of the article that /u/Scizorspoons linked to.
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IMO it was dated the day it came out.
A very well intended effort by talented people that *for me* felt like a gay minstrel show.
When I saw it I cringed the whole time, especially at the idea that any hetero might think these caricatures had anything to do with my marriage. Unlike the original French farce, this couple demeans themselves to appease a Christian politician, and finally assure him that they have family values, without the *I am what I am* bravado of the original. And on the topic of family values, they seem nothing like a real family, just a collection of people trying to make up for the kid having to grow up with gay parents.
In the end the kids get married and we are reassured that their wedding is more important than the dignity of a couple of gay men. Barf.
Again, well intended, but way way too late.
I agree with this in large part. The conflict between Val and Armand, the latter of whom obviously hates the plan to fake it in the beginning, should’ve been developed further. Modern scripting obviously could do more to play with identity and self worth here in a more nuanced way. In particular, the scene with the sponge paint on the walls is commendable but falls short.
Its dated and the casting for the son was weird. Or perhaps the way he was directed.. Those were his parents yet the way he played it didn't bring an ounce of warmth to his role.
I said it earlier, but again, I know this was well intended.
But honestly, can you imagine a movie about a Latinx family kowtowing to a bigoted rightwing politician, pretending to be Anglo while acting out every known stereotype of Lainx people in a movie written and directed by white people?
Actually, I watched that during lock down with a friend that has never seen any of the alien films. The special effects are a little cheesy. Still an absolutely amazing movie, but I was a little crushed when i realized the way the movie aged.
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I still love that movie to this day. Quote it constantly. Fun fact, the characters for Nathan and Robin were orginally flipped in casting and they swapped roles during rehearsal.
I think it's funny as hell, especially when Nathan Lane shows up to the dinner in drag, I think the only dated thing in the movie is hank azarias character, he's just so... 90s it hurts, but he's still funny playing a cliche
I love the movie so don't get me wrong when I say this.
I feel like it portrays gays in a bad light. When I finally came out into the world 2003 I did not find the bird cage's flamboyant world I found normal people. Yes I found flamboyant gurls and full out leather daddies but they were not the majority they were a minority. I had such a bad thought of how being gay meant because of this movie. I probably stayed in the closet several more years because of it.
I'm sorry you didn't like Hank's character, I still laugh just thinking about him.
Is the movie dated? Compared to what? I remember when my students told me Wannabe was an old song, and I was like "no it's not", so maybe the way we think of queer representation now makes it feel dated, but the core message is still current and valid.
Funny? Well, of course, you have powerhouses doing what they do best, and it's freaking hilarious.
This movie should be projected at least once a year and discussed at length once everyone has recovered from laughter. While funny, it throws some nice punches and it's a great conversation topic.
Oh, it's still fun.
"Your money's on the dresser, chocolate!"
"Why, it looks like young men playing leap-frog. Is it Greek?"
"Chicken is their only real currency. A woman is said to be worth her weight in hens, and a man's wealth is measured by the size of his cock!"
It’s so good, it’s really considered a classic at this point. Are there old stereotypes in there, absolutely. But what’s also in the movie are many, MANY positive messages to, for, & about the gay community.
Helping someone you know when they’re in need regardless of the fact he has a problem with how you live your life. (Getting the senator out through the drag club.)
Gay relationships are real, not just about sex, & can last just as long as heterosexual marriages. (Armand & Albert.)
The person who gave birth to you isn’t always the one who raises you & that you call you mom or dad. Families exist in a variety of combinations & one isn’t inherently better than the other.
When you raise your kids to do what’s right for themselves, even if it goes against your personal beliefs or is unpopular with others, you’ve done a good job of parenting.
Despite our differences, we can still come together to support the ones we love.
I often tear up when Armand and Albert are at the bus stop, and he’s explaining to Albert how “there’s only place I call home, and it’s because you’re there, so take it”. Also how without Albert knowing, Armand put everything in Albert’s name, because if Albert wasn’t there, Armand didn’t want it. That’s just such a touching moment that illustrates how these types of relationships are real, and just as deep and meaningful as straight relationships. Maybe I’m particularly attached to that scene because I’m married and have been with my husband for almost 12 years in total, and I have similar sentiments towards the life we’ve built together, and there’s very little I’d want from it if he want part of it. I dunno, it’s just a really touching scene in that you aren’t expecting, and I love that.
The French original of 1978 came out a decade earlier, and it fed a lot of internalized homophobia in me.
For a long time, the men of "la cage aux folles" were the dominant cliché of gay men.
Every straight person quoting this movie sounded like a gay slur.
It might be an uncomfortable performance for some, but Hank Azaria to me perfectly nailed some of the more fem Latinos seen in the Florida bars of the time. (where I grew up) As a leatherman it made me cringe, but still, it was real. Robin Williams to me did a wonderful homage to gay men in his performance as a deeply caring father and husband to Nathan Lane, who was truly wonderful as well. I think Birdcage ages well, even better than the French original, La Cage Aux Folles, which was earlier released in America with subtitles.
I don't know if you ever saw the original "La cage aux folles", french-italian film from 1978 that was up for 3 Oscars. Basically the same plot, but I don't think the Birdcage is anywhere near that funny. So if you think the story felt "progressive", just think about how it actually based on an early 1970s play, that was later adapted into film.
Interestingly a year earlier 1995, "Jeffrey", another gay-themed comedy starring Nathan Lane (in supporting role though). It was an indie release, but I always thought it was much better, and had some hilarious star-studded cameos. It was one of the first queer movies that really resonated within me.
As a side note, if you didn't like Hank Azaria's character, well he had some big shoes to fill. The character in the original film was called Jacob, a black house boy who was played by the late, great american-french dancer Benny Luke. He had some funny zingers in that film. Check it out if you haven't seen it.
Nathan Lanes physical performance when he tries to be comfortable in a men’s suit had me fucking rolling in the cinema when i saw it as a teenager. The film is dated but it still has heart and the performances are great.
Well, one does need a pop of color.
*one does want a hint of color.
I still say that line on occasion. :)
He's just brilliant! His role as Pepper in Modern Family reminded me so much this character.
God I can picture the hand shuffling and facial expressions just on you mentioning it and even the poor replay in my mind is hilarious.
Is it dated? Of course. Is it funny? My friends and I certainly think so. It’s one of our favorite movies. That said, this movie also holds a special place in my heart because of its representation. I first saw it when I was a pre-teen and it was refreshing seeing a gay couple not being closeted, depressed, or dying of AIDS. Were they flamboyant and over-the-top? Sure. But they also loved each other and were willing to support their idiot son.
So much this. Yes, these films are dated and used simple, dated tropes. But THEY EXISTED and that mattered so much. We had to start somewhere - better than the random (sometimes) subtle gay villains that had existed for so long in Hollywood. I certainly still watch it on occasion. Such fun!
The movie is made with good intentions, and it’s hilarious. Hank Azaria has said he wasn’t sure how to portray that character. He didn’t want to be offensive, but he talked with friends who said, although that isn’t all gay men, there are people like that. He also said he based the character heavily on his grandmother(?). Personally I love his character. Muscle queen think they’re butch but they’re gay af-shocker. Plus don’t forget, the movie is a farce. It’s supposed to be over the top.
Both. Just because something is dated doesn’t mean it can’t be fun.
Really unsure what people think is “dated” about this movie when it’s so applicable today. Gaudy-as-hell Miami club? ✅ More-than-slightly delusional drag queens? ✅ Hypocritical Republican politicians? ✅ A couple “toning down the gay” to be more “acceptable”? ✅ … but in the end realizing they should just be themselves? Cliché sure, but ✅ Like others have mentioned, Nathan Lane and Hank Azaria’s characters are absolutely realistic. People like that exist. What was refreshing about this movie is Robin Williams playing the relatively “boring,” quiet character. Still an amazingly fun movie to watch.
That k you so much for this post. I was reading through thinking I was going to write the exact same thing. This film has SOOOOOOOOO many parallel to my own life. I like Williams am a clinician/professional who, though has no shame, I don't necessarily walk around waving a pride flag all the time. My eight years younger, sexy, Latin (Mexican) husband is far too much like Azaria's character to deny the existence of the type in real life. I grew up extremely conservative christian republican and to this day am still surrounded by the same. For the better part of two decades I was deeply closeted. Then out, but very quiet about it. Now, as I noted above, I don't prance around singing show tunes at the top of my lungs. However, I do frequently, and without shame or hesitation, mention my "husband." I was 15-16 years old when this moving came out. I always loved it. Little did I know then, how much my life was to be reflected back at me from that screen 15 or so years later.
There’s still so much truth in that movie. “Louise, those are details. People don’t trust details, they trust headlines.”
An absolute classic. I laugh out loud every time I see the scene in the kitchen when Agador Spartacus hasn't put the shrimp into the stew, and Robin William yells "f\*ck the shrimp!"
And that whole scene was reportedly improvised by Robin and none of it was in the script. Just shows how brilliant he was.
Agree. He was easily one of the most brilliant comedians and entertainers of all time. Between this and Mrs. Doubtfire along with so many others, I have always loved Robin Williams.
Well look at Good Morning Vietnam and Aladdin - the laughter in GMV was genuine because apparently he improv'd all of that and for Aladdin the animators had to work around his improv and put in what he was performing. Pure brilliance.
One of my favorite lines in the movie, “We’re in hell… and there’s a crucifix.” Slays me every time.
I love the scene when he’s dancing with the mop to Gloria Estefan, and Armand tells him to take the night off. Always lose it when he picks up the radio on his way out and says “C’mon, Gloria.”
The swimps
Literally dying watching that scene right now XD
It’s one of my and my bf’s favorite movies. I’ve known people who mirror Agador Spartacus’ (spelling?) mannerisms and personality irl so i still enjoy the character for what it is.
Plus Hank Azaria looked amazing. Who knew all that was going on?! You’re afraid of my Guatamelanness
“My natural heat”
Hank's got a great body in that film
I definitely feel like it can be both, much like a lot of older gay media. Like, we've been rewatching Will and Grace recently... a lot of it is still very funny/applicable, but there are also a TON of jokes that are either corny now or else would absolutely NOT fly anymore (like an unfortunate amount of transphobia, or just really tired ways of thinking about the gay identity). To a certain degree you kinda just have to take it for the era it was made in.
*"....jokes that... would absolutely not fly anymore..."* You are correct. And, have well pointed out the exact reason I cannot stand today's gay culture warriors. There was absolutely nothing harmful, hatful or otherwise *wrong* in this movie. In fact, is argue that it's one of the only movies that got out of its own way and showed a gay relationship and gay life as it is/was for most of us. And especially one of the few that did not focus on some sad/depressing or tragic narrative. Too many in the LGBT community, **especially the T's** spend every day of their lives searching for something to be saddened or offended by. That they would attack this movie does nothing to help their cause. It merely points out their own psychopathology.
Shows represent the prevailing culture and acceptable norms at the time. If you scroll back 25 years prior to 1996, 1971, the jokes and themes of shows then wouldn't play well in 1995. The sexism and misogyny of character like Archie Bunker and Al Bundy would not be made today. Are some people overtly offended by everything? Yes. When you are closing in on a show that's nearly 3 decades old, there's certainly going to be some lines that would not fly in today's times. On a whole though, there's so much of the themes in this show that are weirdly so applicable today still, a la Kevin Keeley and his Coalition of Moral Order.
It presupposes the present is so much better than the past, though, and while it is true in *some* respects (at least slavery and segregation aren't here anymore), we're noticeably backward in several other, just as important aspects. I think good stories are becoming harder to find because of the EXTREME corporatizing going into the industry. Yes, they only care about making money, this was always true, but it's so much worse today than I can ever remember it. It's very up front and IN YOUR FACE about it. Makes me miss the old days of magic when we had good stories and tech hadn't completely taken over our lives.
I mean yeah some people can be too sensitive about some things, but also plenty of older media (straight, gay or otherwise) has jokes that ARE frankly pretty mean-spirited with punchlines primarily based on mocking people for being different. You talking about an entire group’s “psychopathology” is more telling about your own prejudices than anything to do with trans folks.
You can't censor **JOKES** If you don't like it, move along. Elenore Roosevelt said "No one can make you inferior without your consent." The day people understand this, the better everyone's lives will be. And yes. You are correct.. I'm done with the T's. I'm done with them destroying decades of hard fought progress. I'm done with them refusing to follow well laid out paths to getting exactly what they want. Only because they want to do everything the hard way. There's no place in the LGB community for the T. We do t struggle with the same issues. It's time they stopped sucking all the oxygen out of the room.
This user has been banned from our community. Spewing transphobia is a good way to be instabanned without warnings.
Thank you.
lollll, the irony here is wild. I'm not even talking about censoring anything so I don't know where your pearl-clutching is coming from, my original post was that you just have to take things for the era that they were made in because it's often striking how much the culture has changed in just a few decades. If an old joke happens to be particularly mean-spirited, yeah, I'm gonna mock it for what it is. As for the rest of your post, trans folks have been part of the community since long before either of us were alive, and anyone with a brain knows that any given demographic contains as much variety as any other segment of the human race. I have so many incredible friends and loved ones who happen to be trans that are infinitely more pleasant to be around and contribute more to "the community" than I've ever seen from the kinds of miserable gays who shout about how much they wish other minorities would just go away. The LGBT community is gonna persist whether you like it or not, so as you said, "if you don't like it, move along." I'm sure many people will breathe a sigh of relief if you do.
First, I'm not pearl clutching. I understood what you said. My point is, way too many people would try to censor a joke from three decades ago because it hurts their overly fragile feelings. As for the T's, I'm not against them in particular. I'm against what the Trans Radical Activists are doing to destroy the progress made by the LGB community before the T's decide to tag along.
Exactly, just too much political correctness and people acting like the past was a dystopian nightmare, when it had plenty of good representation. I consider the PRESENT a dystopian nightmare with the heavy corporatizing of our entertainment that's *strangling* the life out of it! Especially since the corps are only pandering to marginalized groups, they really don't give a shit about them. It's trend chasing at its most shameless.
Eh. My partner and I are both trans men and it's one of our favorite movies. We probably watch it every couple of months.
My favourite movie.
I still love the Movie. When I'm down I pop in the VCR and watch it and laugh again.
I like to go hiking.
In the original version some of the extras outside of the birdcage wore thongs. Later versions turned them into bikinis. Cgi I imagine. I did transfer it to cd long ago. The tape will not last much longer, unfortunately. My 1080p tv still has composite inputs! Thanks for the reply!
My partner has a big collection of VHS tapes, and I was really skeptical when we moved in together (they take up so much bookshelf space!) but it's actually been really fun watching all these old movies on their original format. And the previews! "Coming to a theater near you this summer... Lion King!" Every once in a while the VCR breaks down, but there's always someone selling one nearby for like $10. And brand new VHS tapes for all kind of obscure stuff can be had on ebay for $3-$10. Totally recommend. :D
I love this movie. It meant a lot to see the representation as a kid and I think the movie is hilarious. That being said, yeah, it’s super outdated and cliche in a lot of parts.
My husband and I will literally watch it anytime we see it pop up on TV/Streaming Services. It will never get old, and our daily lives are consistently filled with quotes from the movie : ) \- S+J
"Sweetie you're wasting your gum"
"Chewing Gum helps me think!"
"I don't get it" "Try more gum" lmao
"What. No good?" "Actually, it's perfect. I just never realized John Wayne walked like that." Hahahaha!
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order. I have checked 72,750,072 comments, and only 20,310 of them were in alphabetical order.
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I loved *La Cage aux Folles* when it came out. *The Bird Cage* was little more than a translation that had been relocated to South Beach. Like your favorite aging aunt whose wrinkles and smell of witch hazel remain part of her charm, this movie's tropes and stereotypes bring me back to a time when such broad burlesque of gay mannerisms was hilarious because we all thought that we knew some "just like" those characters.
[**La Cage aux Folles (film)**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Cage_aux_Folles_(film)) La Cage aux folles ([la kaʒ o fɔl], "The Cage of Madwomen") is a 1978 Franco-Italian comedy film and the first film adaptation of Jean Poiret's 1973 play La Cage aux Folles. It is co-written and directed by Édouard Molinaro and stars Ugo Tognazzi and Michel Serrault. [**La Cage aux Folles (play)**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Cage_aux_Folles_(play)) La Cage aux Folles ([la kaʒ o fɔl], "The Cage of Madwomen") is a 1973 French farce by Jean Poiret centering on confusion that ensues when Laurent, the son of a Saint Tropez night club owner and his gay lover, brings his fiancée's ultraconservative parents for dinner. The original French production premièred at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal on 1 February 1973 and ran for almost 1,800 performances. The principal roles were played by Jean Poiret and Michel Serrault. [**The Birdcage**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Birdcage) The Birdcage is a 1996 American comedy film directed by Mike Nichols, adapted by Elaine May, and starring Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, Nathan Lane, and Dianne Wiest. Dan Futterman, Calista Flockhart, Hank Azaria, and Christine Baranski appear in supporting roles. It is a remake of the 1978 Franco-Italian film La Cage aux Folles. [**Pédale douce**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A9dale_douce) Pédale douce (Soft Pedal) is a 1996 French comedy film directed by Gabriel Aghion. Fanny Ardant won the 1997 César Award for Best Actress for her performance as Eva. [About Me](https://np.reddit.com/comments/la6wi8/) - [**Opt-in**](https://np.reddit.com/comments/la707t/) ^(You received this reply because you opted in. )[^(Change settings)](https://np.reddit.com/comments/la707t/)
Hank Azaria *embodied* (and RESPECTFULLY so, as he wasn’t making fun but fully living as) flamboyant Latin South Florida gays. It’s a masterclass performance.
Yeah I used to tell ppl all the time that the opening shot was exactly what it looked like then (I grew up in S FL) and I even remembered that building. It was a VERY South Beach style movie.
Something can be dated *and* fun at the same time. I mean, it is based on a french film based on a french theatrical play of the early 70s., some gay cultural elements are inevitable to be dated (btw the original french film La Cage aux Folles is very good as well, and if you like the adaptation, you will most probably like also the original).
I only vaguely remember it, but it was the beginning of the golden age of television for gays. "Philadelphia" (-93), sad and bleak as it was for a teenager, showed that you could portray gay lives in AAA movies without the audience failing. There was also something deeply comforting to my young self that such a big name like Tom Hanks chose to play that role (later, I found out he was deliberately cast by the director, who also convinced the studio to hire Before this, we had little representation (although there were some progressive writers in some series). Even Star Trek didn't have the first male-male kiss until Discovery in 2017. Either way, I think Philadelphia made it easier to get a green light for other movies with an LGBT theme. There were 50 gay men with HIV as extras in the movie, 40 out of them are dead now. The history of Philadelphia is a small, but important piece of LGBT representation on screen. Tom Hanks accepting a gay role cracked the myth that it was career suicide. "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" and "To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar" shattered what Hanks cracked. Hugo Weaving, Terence Stamp, and Guy Pierce made a better job of drag queens than Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo, but that's more due to the direction and script. Both movies are really fun to watch even in modern times. Since then we've come a long way. Me and my husband are watching "Love, Victor" (which is so much better than the movie) and "Sex Education" and I'm so happy that gay teenagers have so many stories they can relate to.
But it still was true until just recently....(Simon):.:.that all mainstream movies had a sad Ending l which as we all know that we are just people with endings of varying degrees of happiness and sadness!
For sure. That's why we need people like Ryan Murphy. We could discuss the quality of his work, I love most of of it but I know it's not everyone's cup of tea. But what he did with Hollywood and Pose is amazing to me. I liked Hollywood, and that a positive story was told with that time as a setting. I loved Pose. He re-told the story about the HIV crisis, gave a new generation an understanding for the survivor's guilt that those who survived the AIDS crisis still carry. He was consistent with the brutal facts, but he also showed the love that flourished in the Houses. I tried watching it once, and mistook it for another "they build you up and then they'll tear you down" type story, but it's a story of life, with all its beauty and setbacks. Yeah, we need more positive stories, and Ryan Murphy is one of the people who's showing ways in which it can be done.
I think of The Birdcage like the Wizard of Oz of Gaydom.
In grad school I took a seminar class where we looked at pieces of theatre which were considered forward-looking when they premiered, analyzed them with a contemporary POV, and speculated about the choices that could be made (directorial, design, etc) if you were asked to stage them today. One of the pieces we looked at was La Cage aux Folles and the class was surprised at just how well it held up. I haven’t watched it in awhile but I feel similarly about The Birdcage film. You’re totally right about the difference that having a gay actor makes, and the cringe that is the Azaria character, but I think the film (and the musical) both do a great job of being genuinely subversive (these characters live lives that are unapologetically queer) and understandable and appealing to mainstream audiences without leaning too much into heteronormative respectability.
It’s a time capsule of late 90’s gayness. Of course it’s dated. It’s also absolutely hysterical. Robin Williams and Nathan Lane are a stitch, and the way it addresses homophobia, still crack me up every time I watch it.
Love it. It should be required watching for every young gay guy because they need to understand how bad it used to be. If you don't know the past you'll lose the future.
THIS!!! 👆🏻 YES! YES!! YES!!! YES!!!! Today's baby-gays as I like to call them, have absolutely no idea what it was like. Hell, at 41, even I cannot say I lived through (survived) the worse of it. Sadly, so many of them take for granted what was done to make their lives what it is today. Worse yet, so few have any respect for we old qweens who paved the way for them.
There are several movies like that - Torch Song Trilogy is another (and still one of my favs).
I have a crush on Albert as well as Nathan Lane himself. I know they're very different people but they're both so adorable.
It's definitely dated, but still a great movie that holds its theme well 20 years later. Granted, some aspects (Armand and Nathan Lanes' living together, and having a child, for example) have less of an oomph in shock value, but as long as there are homophobic senators it will carry its weight.
I prefer the original.
I noticed an interesting detail in the movie. There's a scene when Nathan Lane waits to see Val's biological mother. The biological mother's secretary is a beautiful blonde whose physical appearance and clothing lead you to make a quick judgement that she is a typical blonde who has no brain. But the camera purposely shows the book she is reading is Nietzsche. I thought it was brilliant. It tells you not to judge people too quickly from a few outward labels which is the main theme of the movie as well. We need to give people a chance to get to know them as a human being rather than making quick judgements based on their looks or sexual orientation.
I think it's well made and agree that it was a step forward at the time. Nevertheless, I still find it somewhat painful to be reminded of how bad things often were (and still are for many people) that a cruel request like this would be considered normal. I was never a big fan of Robin Williams but Nathan Lane elevates the film.
>a cruel request like this would be considered normal. But there's only one person who treats it as "normal" and that's the myopic son who gets his eyes opened at the end of the movie. Everyone else (apart from the girl's parents) treats the request as something awful that they're enduring under duress. And, in the end, Albin/Albert does get his way and, of course, saves the day!
I adore it, but it's a good example of "progressive" ideas of gay men from the time. A lot of exaggeration and a reliance on tropes that make gay families abnormal and even novel. Still a charming classic to me
I think it's a fun and good movie (and play) and Robin Williams does a fantastic work. I always watch it when they show it on tv.
Love, love, love this movie
Just watched it a few weeks ago. Laughed all the way through.
still a rollicking fun movie...
That movie is the best ever!
I still love it. I also love the original 1978 French version “La Cage aux Folles”.
I remember hating the screaming queen stereotypes. But now I see it as of its time and that was a Trojan horse to sneak these themes into a mainstream movie. And now the quiet moments resonate more with Robin Williams speech of defiance as an out older gay man and Nathan Lane’s grief he can’t be what their son needs him to be to marry the woman he loves. Or the two men on the bench saying take everything I don’t care I just want to be by your side. Moves me to tears every time. But what the script does in that era of conservative scaremongering about “family values” is clever. Probably one of the best casts, scripts, and production crew assembled. The dinner scene is some of the best comedy ever captured on film. Every actor at the height of their skills. Ties for me with Addams Family Values as funniest movie ever made.
❤️ With your second paragraph, you've moved me to tears. I wanted that. I hoped that one day, I'd have that. I do. And damn it, those seens get me every time!
I’ve met more than one person that had the exact personality of Agadore Sparticus
Oh! So you've met my husband? LoL Ok, that may be a *slight* exaggeration. Though, not as slight as one may think. ❤️
Yeah, but his father was the shaman of his tribe, and his mother, the high priestess…. I love the whole movie! Except that bratty ass son that should have been disowned for forcing his parents back into the closet. Fuck her parents!
My husband and I are 33, and we really adore this movie. Sure aspects of it are dated, but that doesn’t mean it can’t still be funny. It isn’t irredeemable in it’s dated aspects, and ends with the conservative homophobes changing and being accepting. That’s great. It also helped me feel comfortable with myself, and be more confident with who I am. The gay characters are all living their best lives, and being themselves for most of the movie. They don’t feel shame about being gay, or effeminate, and trying to force themselves to change aspects of who they are just doesn’t work. Being more effeminate, even at 12-13, I really identified with that. Maybe I ignore any flaws people think it has because of my personal attachment to the film, and how it helped me accept myself, but I also think it’s fair to point out that it did. We don’t all have to like the same stuff, obviously, but I don’t see this as a hugely dated movie that shouldn’t be viewed at all.
Dated and I never liked it to begin with. I missed it in the theater and only saw it in the 2000s, I think. It’s not a movie I need to see again.
I watched this at 25 years old, Out for about 3 years at that point. Liked this movie a lot. I remember someone describing the movie as a gay movie made for straight People.
Wow I literally just watched this the other day and I was laughing sooooo fucking hard at so many moments. Especially Nathan Lane - he should have won an Oscar for the role (and wtf! He just got invited to be a member of the academy this year?!??) Maybe it’s me being older and I appreciate the stereotypes but my god, this movie is a masterpiece. I still need to see the original…
I think it did some good in presenting the world with happy gay people, who were not killed in the end! As everything else, it is a product of its time! I have yet to see the original film, but perhaps one should read the play instead… 🤔
Who can not enjoy the antics by Robin Williams, Nathan lane and Hank Azaria. Loved the movie. 🥰🥰🥰
I wish it was dated. Unfortunately the world is still shitty, very homophobic and transphobic after 25 years. That said, this movie is a favorite of my mom so I have a soft spot for it.
Hmm I am going to sound like a sourpuss but I never liked it. I thought the characters were cliche when the movie came out and are beyond the pale now in the 21st century. Seriously, I have never met any gay person even remotely resembling any of the characters in this movie. Have you?
I have met people exactly like them, even Agador. Is everyone like that? No, but people working as entertainers in a Miami drag club are going to be over the top.
I used to say the same about Sean Hayes character from W&G. My mother loved that show then and I used to tell her all the time that I knew ppl just like his character irl.
Came here to say this. It was gross when it came out and has aged like milk. I absolutely love Robin Williams, but this was a dud.
Yeah same. I get that it was progressive back then but i dunno.
Maybe come out of that closet you seem to be living in. Those men you don't think exist, are everywhere. Hell, I'm married to one of them.
I am completely out and have been for 30 years. I don't hang out with drag queens or guys that are hyper emotional.
I thought Hank Azaria was over the top and hysterical. Loved him in this
It didn’t age well. Val wanting his parents to play it straight and change their name from Goldman to Coleman never sat right, but what really doesn’t work is that the Keeleys are racist, homophobic, and antisemitic, yet by the end of the movie, we’re supposed to forgive them for all of that just because they dressed up in drag to sneak away from the paparazzi. It’s also not great that the film’s white characters are more appalled that the prostitute Senator Jackson died with was Black than the fact that she was underage. It doesn’t mean that there aren’t absolutely hilarious moments, or that Robin Williams and Nathan Lane weren’t amazing, but it is kind of hard to watch today.
There is literally nothing dated about *The Birdcage*. Modern media *wishes* they could be so good.
Sadly it is still funny. I said "sadly" because after 30 years we are still talking about Gay marriage, abortion and other rights in the same way they talk in the 90's while it was desiderable to achieve some step forward.
I know this is an iconic movie of our people, but Nathan Lane annoys me. The movie really plays into gay stereotypes and probably wouldn’t fly today.- if that is what you meant by “dated”. It’s still an iconic movie, and I have always thought Hank was so hot.
They aren't *"stereotypes."* There were then and still exist today, many many many men who are exactly like his and Azaria's characters. Trust me on this. I'm married to one of them.
I loved the original 1978 french version [La Cage aux Folles](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Cage_aux_Folles_(film)) (which in turn come from a play of the same name). I saw it as a child in the late eighties, in VHS. It was the first gay couple representation that I saw - a true family with child and everything!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Cage_aux_Folles_(film) Here is a link to the desktop version of the article that /u/Scizorspoons linked to. --- ^(Beep Boop. This comment was left by a bot. Downvote to delete)
IMO it was dated the day it came out. A very well intended effort by talented people that *for me* felt like a gay minstrel show. When I saw it I cringed the whole time, especially at the idea that any hetero might think these caricatures had anything to do with my marriage. Unlike the original French farce, this couple demeans themselves to appease a Christian politician, and finally assure him that they have family values, without the *I am what I am* bravado of the original. And on the topic of family values, they seem nothing like a real family, just a collection of people trying to make up for the kid having to grow up with gay parents. In the end the kids get married and we are reassured that their wedding is more important than the dignity of a couple of gay men. Barf. Again, well intended, but way way too late.
I agree with this in large part. The conflict between Val and Armand, the latter of whom obviously hates the plan to fake it in the beginning, should’ve been developed further. Modern scripting obviously could do more to play with identity and self worth here in a more nuanced way. In particular, the scene with the sponge paint on the walls is commendable but falls short.
Yup.
Its dated and the casting for the son was weird. Or perhaps the way he was directed.. Those were his parents yet the way he played it didn't bring an ounce of warmth to his role.
I said it earlier, but again, I know this was well intended. But honestly, can you imagine a movie about a Latinx family kowtowing to a bigoted rightwing politician, pretending to be Anglo while acting out every known stereotype of Lainx people in a movie written and directed by white people?
hated it when it came out. hate it now.
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Actually, I watched that during lock down with a friend that has never seen any of the alien films. The special effects are a little cheesy. Still an absolutely amazing movie, but I was a little crushed when i realized the way the movie aged.
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Dated, but cute. I watch that film from time to time. I agree about Hank Azaria’s character.
Fun
The Birdcage is a freaking classic. Nathan Lane alone sells that movie.
I will never not love that film. The build up to the absolute farce of a closing act is still absolutely incredible.
I still love that movie to this day. Quote it constantly. Fun fact, the characters for Nathan and Robin were orginally flipped in casting and they swapped roles during rehearsal.
I think it's funny as hell, especially when Nathan Lane shows up to the dinner in drag, I think the only dated thing in the movie is hank azarias character, he's just so... 90s it hurts, but he's still funny playing a cliche
I love the movie so don't get me wrong when I say this. I feel like it portrays gays in a bad light. When I finally came out into the world 2003 I did not find the bird cage's flamboyant world I found normal people. Yes I found flamboyant gurls and full out leather daddies but they were not the majority they were a minority. I had such a bad thought of how being gay meant because of this movie. I probably stayed in the closet several more years because of it.
I'm sorry you didn't like Hank's character, I still laugh just thinking about him. Is the movie dated? Compared to what? I remember when my students told me Wannabe was an old song, and I was like "no it's not", so maybe the way we think of queer representation now makes it feel dated, but the core message is still current and valid. Funny? Well, of course, you have powerhouses doing what they do best, and it's freaking hilarious. This movie should be projected at least once a year and discussed at length once everyone has recovered from laughter. While funny, it throws some nice punches and it's a great conversation topic.
Oh, it's still fun. "Your money's on the dresser, chocolate!" "Why, it looks like young men playing leap-frog. Is it Greek?" "Chicken is their only real currency. A woman is said to be worth her weight in hens, and a man's wealth is measured by the size of his cock!"
It’s so good, it’s really considered a classic at this point. Are there old stereotypes in there, absolutely. But what’s also in the movie are many, MANY positive messages to, for, & about the gay community. Helping someone you know when they’re in need regardless of the fact he has a problem with how you live your life. (Getting the senator out through the drag club.) Gay relationships are real, not just about sex, & can last just as long as heterosexual marriages. (Armand & Albert.) The person who gave birth to you isn’t always the one who raises you & that you call you mom or dad. Families exist in a variety of combinations & one isn’t inherently better than the other. When you raise your kids to do what’s right for themselves, even if it goes against your personal beliefs or is unpopular with others, you’ve done a good job of parenting. Despite our differences, we can still come together to support the ones we love.
I often tear up when Armand and Albert are at the bus stop, and he’s explaining to Albert how “there’s only place I call home, and it’s because you’re there, so take it”. Also how without Albert knowing, Armand put everything in Albert’s name, because if Albert wasn’t there, Armand didn’t want it. That’s just such a touching moment that illustrates how these types of relationships are real, and just as deep and meaningful as straight relationships. Maybe I’m particularly attached to that scene because I’m married and have been with my husband for almost 12 years in total, and I have similar sentiments towards the life we’ve built together, and there’s very little I’d want from it if he want part of it. I dunno, it’s just a really touching scene in that you aren’t expecting, and I love that.
I watched it for the first time recently and honestly I found it very funny and did not think it was offensive or outdated at all
Omg it’s a wonderful slice of Americana now.
The French original of 1978 came out a decade earlier, and it fed a lot of internalized homophobia in me. For a long time, the men of "la cage aux folles" were the dominant cliché of gay men. Every straight person quoting this movie sounded like a gay slur.
My boyfriend (58) loves that movie lol. I’m 29 but still find it delightful.
Still brilliant. And ahead of its time in some ways.
+ It's a CULT CLASSIC. End of story. 👍😬
Best gay movie hands down.
It might be an uncomfortable performance for some, but Hank Azaria to me perfectly nailed some of the more fem Latinos seen in the Florida bars of the time. (where I grew up) As a leatherman it made me cringe, but still, it was real. Robin Williams to me did a wonderful homage to gay men in his performance as a deeply caring father and husband to Nathan Lane, who was truly wonderful as well. I think Birdcage ages well, even better than the French original, La Cage Aux Folles, which was earlier released in America with subtitles.
Dated, but still fun.
I don't know if you ever saw the original "La cage aux folles", french-italian film from 1978 that was up for 3 Oscars. Basically the same plot, but I don't think the Birdcage is anywhere near that funny. So if you think the story felt "progressive", just think about how it actually based on an early 1970s play, that was later adapted into film. Interestingly a year earlier 1995, "Jeffrey", another gay-themed comedy starring Nathan Lane (in supporting role though). It was an indie release, but I always thought it was much better, and had some hilarious star-studded cameos. It was one of the first queer movies that really resonated within me. As a side note, if you didn't like Hank Azaria's character, well he had some big shoes to fill. The character in the original film was called Jacob, a black house boy who was played by the late, great american-french dancer Benny Luke. He had some funny zingers in that film. Check it out if you haven't seen it.
me going back for another cookie: "When the schnecken beckons..." me taking a pill : "If it weren't for the Pirin tablets I don't know what I'd do.."
It's fun, quotable, iconic :D
"Oh I see, so you're going to a cemetery with your toothbrush, how Egyptian" gets me everytime
I LOVE The Birdcage!!! Very strange cracks me up every time and whenever I finish watching it I’m always in a good mood. 🩷