This blatantly mediocre 1996 remake of "La Cage aux Folles" has none of the charm and nuance of the French classic. If you have NOT seen the original, there is a twinge of enjoyment to be found. If you HAVE seen the original, this experience will be a total bust.
Robin Williams (as Armand) admirably downplays his role as a gay cabaret owner who showcases his brittle other half (Albert) in nightly drag revues. In a role that would seem tailor-made for the larger-than-life talents of the usually impressive Nathan Lane, the actor instead comes off (surprisingly) unfunny and (not surprisingly) hammy, indulging himself in the `see-how-hilarious-I-am' school of comedy acting. Lane's one-dimensional character merely comes off nasty and needy, while the relationship between the lovers seems forced and superficial. Not once did I believe them as a couple. The absolute lack of chemistry between these two comedy masters remains a mystery.
Masquerading as a heterosexual pair (with Lane ending up in matronly drag) to appease Arnaud's straight son who wants to pass off his family as `straight' to his fiancee's parents, the film offers the stars endless comic possibilities. The resulting series of mishaps sputters at every turn.
As the fiancee's parents, Gene Hackman, in particular, betrays his serious character by going for obvious laughs, while Dianne Wiest, who has demonstrated her Academy Award talent as a farceur, looks lost and uncomfortable. Dan Futterman and a pre-Ally McBeal Calista Flockhart are a cute enough young couple in love, and Hank Azaria as the flaming houseboy certainly has his moments prancing about. Christine Baranski comes off grounded but basically ineffective as the boy's real mother who tries to help out.
The sad truth is that the film has no truth...no heart...no joire de vivre. There is little place for this movie to go but down the tubes. So PLEASE, PLEASE do yourself a favor and rent the 1978 French film from whence this mess came. It is alternately hysterical and touching. But, most importantly, rent the French version with subtitles for the full comic effect, NOT the atrociously-dubbed English version.
Some Americanized versions of French films have not done badly ("Three Men and a Baby" for one). As for `The Birdcage,' avoid it like the guillotine!
Robin Williams (as Armand) admirably downplays his role as a gay cabaret owner who showcases his brittle other half (Albert) in nightly drag revues. In a role that would seem tailor-made for the larger-than-life talents of the usually impressive Nathan Lane, the actor instead comes off (surprisingly) unfunny and (not surprisingly) hammy, indulging himself in the `see-how-hilarious-I-am' school of comedy acting. Lane's one-dimensional character merely comes off nasty and needy, while the relationship between the lovers seems forced and superficial. Not once did I believe them as a couple. The absolute lack of chemistry between these two comedy masters remains a mystery.
Masquerading as a heterosexual pair (with Lane ending up in matronly drag) to appease Arnaud's straight son who wants to pass off his family as `straight' to his fiancee's parents, the film offers the stars endless comic possibilities. The resulting series of mishaps sputters at every turn.
As the fiancee's parents, Gene Hackman, in particular, betrays his serious character by going for obvious laughs, while Dianne Wiest, who has demonstrated her Academy Award talent as a farceur, looks lost and uncomfortable. Dan Futterman and a pre-Ally McBeal Calista Flockhart are a cute enough young couple in love, and Hank Azaria as the flaming houseboy certainly has his moments prancing about. Christine Baranski comes off grounded but basically ineffective as the boy's real mother who tries to help out.
The sad truth is that the film has no truth...no heart...no joire de vivre. There is little place for this movie to go but down the tubes. So PLEASE, PLEASE do yourself a favor and rent the 1978 French film from whence this mess came. It is alternately hysterical and touching. But, most importantly, rent the French version with subtitles for the full comic effect, NOT the atrociously-dubbed English version.
Some Americanized versions of French films have not done badly ("Three Men and a Baby" for one). As for `The Birdcage,' avoid it like the guillotine!