Review of The Birdcage (1996) by Mark S — 24 Nov 2011

Don't get me wrong, Robin Williams is a funny guy. But, in the same respect, it's also true that a little of him goes a long way. Most of the time, his manic energy grows tiresome after a few minutes and we're left with an entire movie of his mugging and crazy voices. So, it's very strange to me that even though he plays a gay nightclub owner in "The Birdcage", it's one of his most likable and restrained performances of his career.

He gets plenty of laughs here playing the straight man to flamboyant Nathan Lane as his life partner. Both are very good here, and they make a very appealing team. The film's success lies primarily with a smart script and smart casting. Not only are the two leads very funny, Gene Hackman is a revelation. He's never done a film like this in his entire career, and although he's a complete fish-out-of-water, it works big time. It's a terrific comedic performance, equal to that of Williams and Lane. Hank Azaria also gets in his share of laughs in a supporting role.

The subject matter may have been considered a tough sell in Middle America, but director Mike Nichols brings a sense of class to the proceedings. In anyone else's hands, this could have been another "Boat Trip". Some may argue that the film takes a while to get started, but once "The Birdcage" warms up, it's a lot of contagious fun. At the heart, it's a campy film handled with a lot of class. And it gets a lot of big laughs along the way.