Review of The Birdcage (1996) by Monsieur R — 06 Feb 2015

Adapted from the hit French play La Cage aux Folles by Jean Poiret, which was made into a 1978 French comedy by Édouard Molinaro. This American remake directed by Mike Nichols and adapted by Nichols' old comedy partner Elaine May, this is a very funny comedy which has some good farcical moments throughout.

It has a brilliant cast throughout with some very sharp dialogue and comic set-ups. Set in South Beach, Florida. Armand Goldman (Robin Williams) runs a drag club called The Birdcage, his domestic partner Albert (Nathan Lane) is the headliner at the club called 'Starina'.

Armand's son Val (Dan Flutterman) is engaged to be married to Barbara Keeley (Calista Flockhart), whose father Senator Kevin Keeley (Gene Hackman) is a staunch Republican. After a political scandal, Kevin and his wife Louise (Dianne Wiest) need to get away, so they go to meet Val and his parents and have dinner, but when Val's mother Katherine (Christine Baranski) gets stuck in traffic.

Albert comes up with a plan to ensure the dinner goes off without a hitch. It's an extremely silly film, but it manages to be a funny comedy, and it made a name out of Lane, who was a big star on Broadway until then.

After his scene stealing role here, where he stole the film from Williams and everyone else, he was in big demand, and it's a positive picture of the gay culture in Florida.