In & Out 1997
I got a free digital copy of this movie, picked from a larger list, based on positive reviews, plus it is hard not to like Kevin Kline and Joan Cusack (plus Bob Newhart, Tom Selleck, and Matt Dillon, not bad). 1997 was ages ago in gay rights and acceptance and this movie takes a very innocent and maybe overly optimistic look at what it means to be gay. The setup is that Kevin Kline plays a somewhat effeminate English teacher and one of his former students thanks him in his Oscar acceptance speech where he adds that the teacher is gay. In fact, Kline’s character is about to get married to Joan Cusack’s character. The movie is more cute than funny, making easy and kind of tired comments about people’s reactions to this news, plus jibes at Entertainment Tonight kind of media reporting and Hollywood vapidity. Despite a few good scenes, most of the time it seems like the actors are trying a little too hard to be funny and it isn’t working. It is easy enough to watch and Kline is generally good, as is Cusack, but the supporting characters are cardboard cutouts and the plot is pretty disappointing.
Written: 27 Feb 2020
Owned on: Digital