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The Birdcage (1996)
Released By: MGM Home Entertainment   Rating: R   In Theaters: N/A
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Studio: MGM Home Entertainment
Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Mike Nichols
Language: English
Official Website: N/A
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: N/A
Cast: Dianne Wiest, Gene Hackman, Hank Azaria, Nathan Lane, Robin Williams
Published ID: 6285
UPC: 027616603395,
Plot: Director Mike Nichols teams up with his former partner/screenwriter Elaine May for the first time in many years and for the first time together in films to create this sophisticated, remake of the phenomenally popular French musical farce La Cage aux Folles that stars Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman and Diane Wiest as two dramatically disparate couples who manage to reconcile their vast differences for the sake of their children who are getting married. Williams plays Armand Goldman, the owner of a popular South Beach drag club known for putting on elaborate showcases starring his long-time lover/wife Albert (Lane) who appears as Starina. Lately poor flamboyant, flighty Albert has been in crisis over the inexorable onset of middle age. He has been moody, paranoid and unbearably. When he gets too inconsolably distraught, handsome but clumsy houseboy Agador quietly slips Albert Pirin tablets (which he explains to Armand are simply Aspirin tablets with the as scraped off). Still though Albert can be a royal pain, Armand dearly loves him and the two live happily in their splendiferous apartment above the club. One day Armand's son Val (the result of Armand's single foray into straight sex) comes visiting with joyous news: he has found his dreamgirl and is getting married. The only trouble is, Barbara Keeley's father is the blustery ultra-religious right-wing Senator Keeley (Hackman), the founder of the Coalition for Moral Order. Senator Keeley and his colleagues are not as upright as they seem and when his closest associate is found dead beside a black, underage prostitute, Keeley finds his house surrounded by ravenous newshounds, hungry for dirt. Knowing that they are poised to ruin him, Keeley and his proper but slightly addled-wife (Wiest) decide that a big, elaborate, church wedding will be just the ticket to save his reputation. Barbara has neglected to tell them that Val's parents are gay, preferring to claim that they are members of the South Beach social elite. In a panic, she panics and calls Val who breaks the bad news to Armand and begs him to make the apartment less flamboyant and worst of all to hide Albert (who functioned as Val's mother while the youth grew up) during the visit. Armand is angry, but loving his son, finally, reluctantly agrees, knowing that he will deeply wound his companion. Unfortunately, Albert finds out and as a compromise tries to learn how to be macho so he can pretend to be Val's uncle, he is too much the Great Dame to ever pass as one of the guys and so is banned from the party. Armand then locates Catherine and asks her to masquerade as his wife. She agrees to show up later that evening. Meanwhile their friends busily redecorate the apartment until it looks as if it were done in Early Inquisition. During the fateful dinner party, Catherine is late and Albert gets uproarious revenge. Achingly comic chaos ensues as Armand tries to hold the increasingly tenuous evening together while outside the newshounds bay and threaten to make even more trouble for Senator Keely. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
One side of the DVD doesn't play
Added 10/18/2009
I received this DVD on time as promised, however, the widescreen side of the disc doesn't play at the end. VERY DISAPPOINTING!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Great movie!!!
Added 9/7/2009
I love this movie!! I love all the actors in it!!! This movie is so funny!!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Cheap Gay Humor
Added 9/6/2009
Not really quite sure what anyone saw in this turkey. I guess you have to appreciate the casting and Florida locales, but the story was nothing less than annoying. Nathan Lane's character is on one whining and sniveling emotional crisis after another. If that's comedy...I'm missing the point.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
"A Great Film With A Great Cast"
Added 6/10/2009
"The Birdcage" is one of those films that entertains and educates; it's extremely funny, but at the same time it shows its audience that a family can consist of two gay parents who love their child, and will go through anything to make him/her happy. Robin Williams and Nathan Lane star as two gay men who are the parents of a son who is about to get married. The family the son is about to marry into is prominently political, headed by Gene Hackman, so it is important for the gay family to play it "straight". The laughs are plentiful and outrageous, and the music is excellent. Probably one of the best comedies ever made and one of the best films Robin Williams ever starred in, "The Birdcage" came out in 1996 and is now considered by many a classic. The film was directed by Mike Nichols, who directed "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf?".
The DVD is pretty much a barebones edition, but the clarity of the film is excellent and the sound strong and impeccable. There is a nice booklet that comes with the set detailing a bit of info on the making of the film. "The Birdcage" grossed over $185,000,000 at the boxoffice. It is a remake of the french classic "La Cage aux Folles".
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
The BIrd Cage
Added 6/9/2009
This is a fabulously funny movie. Robin Williams is at his best along with a long list of stars. You will laugh start to finish.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
One side of the DVD doesn't play
Added 10/18/2009
I received this DVD on time as promised, however, the widescreen side of the disc doesn't play at the end. VERY DISAPPOINTING!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Great movie!!!
Added 9/7/2009
I love this movie!! I love all the actors in it!!! This movie is so funny!!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Cheap Gay Humor
Added 9/6/2009
Not really quite sure what anyone saw in this turkey. I guess you have to appreciate the casting and Florida locales, but the story was nothing less than annoying. Nathan Lane's character is on one whining and sniveling emotional crisis after another. If that's comedy...I'm missing the point.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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