The National Daily World Enquiring Globe

Film Review - In and Out

I had great hopes for this film. It has its moments, but I'm sorry, it falls flat.

Now that I've deflated your balloon, let's get down to particulars. In and Out is about a Midwest drama teacher (Kevin Kline) whose former student (Matt Dillon) wins an Oscar® and in front of the world audience, declares the teacher gay. OK, so the humor is supposed to be all about how this guy copes with the accusation a week before his wedding.

If this was in fact what the movie was all about, it might have worked, but it is not. The teacher realizes over the next week, that he is in fact gay, and it's fag joke after fag joke for the rest of the movie. In and Out does more to propagate gay stereotypes than any movie I've ever seen.

Tom Selleck has a brave role playing a gay reporter. Selleck is the anchor that keeps this film from going off the deep end on the gay humor. He pokes fun at TV reporters, and represents his gayness as just the way he is. In the bravest moment of the film, there is a long lingering kiss between Selleck and Kline that is sure to send ripples through the Bible Belt.

Other notables in the cast include Wilford Brimley and Debbie Reynolds as Kline's parents. Reynolds is a joy to watch and insanely funny. Joan Cusack is miscast as Kline's bride to be only in that she is not old enough to have been a teacher of Matt Dillon.

In and Out has its extremely funny moments that will put you on the floor. However, its gay humor is little more than cheap shots. I'm not sure who the film was supposed to appeal to: the gays won't like having fun poked at them, and the Bible thumpers won't like that kiss.

Jammed Pipe!

Film Facts

Cast

Directed by Frank Oz

Released in 1997

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Reviewed by Mongo