The Birdcage - A Movie Review

Tonight is either going to be really bad or somehow we can pull off acting like a normal family.

The Birdcage was released to theaters in 1996 based on the show, La Cage Aux Folles. The son of an openly gay cabaret owner and his drag queen partner announces that he is going to get married and her parents insist on meeting them. To do that, a few changes have to be made.

I laughed so hard watching this movie. I cannot believe that I have never seen The Birdcage until now. The film is hilarious from beginning to end, specifically on Robin Williams and Nathan Lane’s part. As a whole, I thought The Birdcage was a positive depiction centering around a gay relationship that wasn’t universally accepted.

Robin Williams and Nathan Lane smashed The Birdcage. I love how they took their interactions as Armand and Albert very seriously, playing a convincing couple. They had their sweet moments and of course, had their bickering moments. In no way did they go over the top with portraying a gay couple who are happy to be who they are. The best scene of all was when they were trying to ‘play it straight’.

My most favorite scene of the late Williams was when he was showing Lane how to do his performance, creating the most manic and hilarious movements. As for Lane, I was most impressed with his performance. Everything from the flamboyant way he spoke, walked, and his famous cross-dress scene was fabulous.

At first, I found Val’s (Dan Futterman) attitude towards the way he thought about his parents offensive like he was embarrassed about his upbringing. He forces all the items that his parents cherish to go away so they can have a normal evening with his fiance and her parents. Then again, that is the whole point in the film. Val learns a lesson that he has always loved the way he has lived. Nobody can change family.

Gene Hackman and Dianne Wiest had the ultimate comedic timing. Playing the sophisticated and conservative parents of Val’s fiance, Barbara (Calista Flockhart), their reactions made for great entertainment. The entire dinner is the signature scene of the film as everyone scrambles around trying to make last-minute touches.

Other credits include Hank Azaria as the hilarious and colorful housekeeper, Agador, who cannot walk in shoes. He steals the show in any scene he is in. Christine Baranski, Tom McGowan, Grant Heslov, Kirby Mitchell, James Lally, Luca Tommassini, and many other talented performers starring as singing cross-dressers were all fantastic.

Behind the scenes, the late Mike Nichols gave his actors a deal to do at least one take going by the script before improvising. Nichols actually had to be covered by a sound-proof blanket because he was laughing too hard during one scene! All around, his direction was superb. He conveyed the true message of the film to its highest sincerity.

Family is family. Nobody should ever change who they are. As Armand proclaims to his son, “I don’t want to be somebody else.” The Birdcage is a great example of how you should never be afraid to be yourself. Love yourself for who you are. The world has changed over the years and while some may not fancy the subject of the film, it is an impactful story that carries a meaningful message.

I was howling in laughter throughout most of this entertaining film. I recommend The Birdcage to anyone to have a laugh. And to enjoy a performance by the energetic Robin Williams whose films will always live on his memory.