Review of The Birdcage (1996) by Warren C — 21 Apr 2009

It is difficult to imagine a scenario when a cast helmed by Nathan Lane, Robin Williams, Dianne Wiest, and Gene Hackman could not deliver a rollicking show. Lane does, indeed, milk his scenes as the irrepressibly flamboyant Albert Goldman, and Dianne Wiest (always a treasure) weaves in some hilariously WASPy moments as Mrs.

Keeley (particularly in her hissing attack on Gene Hackman's wonderfully clueless Senator Keeley for his apparent adoration for "Mrs. Coleman"). The overall product, however, suffers from that off-kilter, Mike Nicholas affectedness (which gave The Graduate its singular, accessible quirkiness and peculiarity) that plagued so many of his later works.

Williams, too, yawns his way through most of the comedy; his usual, hyperactive verve is nowhere to be found, and his performance is rather languid. A few solid knee-slappers and gut-busters aside (Hank Azaria operates with the subtlety of Shirley Bassey as Agador), the oeuvre of Nichols presents far better treasures to be found (particularly his recent masterwork Closer).