Review of The Birdcage (1996) by Ryan R — 16 Aug 2014

Robin Williams inspired rewatch. The comedy still holds up really well, even though the gay-related squeamishness is a bit dated. "Palimony papers". How adorable. The son is still an entitled shit and Nathan Lane is still too over-the-top annoying at times, and the first hour or so is a little slow.

BUT--the best farces have a set-up in the first half and a payoff in the second, and this may be the most satisfying and hilarious payoff I've ever seen in a farce. Hank Azaria, Gene Hackman, and Dianne Wiest all have their great moments, but Robin Williams really does anchor the whole thing, playing the "straight" man who still manages to get as many or even more laughs than the all the wackier people around him. Worth streaming on Netflix, if it's been a while.