Cheap The Birdcage (DVD) (Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, Nathan Lane) (Mike Nichols) Price

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Customer Reviews of The Birdcage

While the characters in the movie, especially the gay characters, are based on broad stereotypes, this is true of much comedy. What counts is that the results are marvelously funny. I highly recommend this movie.

"Sweetie, you're wasting your gum!"
In 1996, Mike Nichols (director of the 1967 film "The Graduate") directed and produced the film "The Birdcage", an American remake of one of the best known French comedic films of all time, "La Cage aux folles" (1978). Named after a fictitious gay nightclub of the same name in South Beach, Florida, the film stars Robin Williams as the nightclub's owner, Armand Goldman. Also starring is Nathan Lane as Armand's partner of 20 years, Albert, who is known by nightclub patrons as the Birdcage's main star named Starina. Their home, located above the nightclub in the same building, is taken care of by their servant Agador (Hank Azaria). One night while Albert is performing, Armand gives the night off to Agador so that he can have a private meeting with a young man who turns out to be his 20-year old son Val (Dan Futterman). Val has returned from college to announce that he is planning to get married. Val's fiancée, Barbara Keeley (Calista Flockhart), is the daughter of the ultra-conservative, right-wing U.S. Senator Kevin Keeley (Gene Hackman) and his wife Louise Keeley (Dianne Wiest). Afraid to tell her parents whom Val's parents really are, Barbara makes up stories about them to make them sound more appealing. When an unforeseen circumstance places Senator Keeley into a very unwanted negative media spotlight, Louise views the impending marriage between Barbara and Val as a means to restore their family's integrity. To the dismay of Val, the Keeley's decide to immediately travel to South Beach to meet Val and his parents. To save Val's engagement, Armand reluctantly agrees to pretend to be the person that Barbara described to her parents. Val also wants his parent's home to appear less flamboyant and for Albert not to be there.

Some viewers of "The Birdcage" considered the film's portrayal of gay men to be too stereotypical and offensive, and some were put off by Val's selfishness; but most viewers find the characters (especially Albert) to be endearing and funny. Some of the best scenes in the film include Albert's argument with Armand about a palimony agreement, Albert rehearsing with Celsius (Luca Tommassini), Armand trying to teach Albert how to act manly, the arrival of 'Mrs. Coleman' (Albert pretending to be Val's mother), Senator Keeley dancing with 'Mrs. Coleman', the arrival of Katherine Archer (Christine Baranski, who plays Val's birth-mother) and the Keeley's secretive departure from the nightclub. Other characters contributing to the film include National Enquirer reporter Harry Radman (Tom McGowan), his photographer (Grant Heslov) and the Keeley's Chauffeur (Kirby Mitchell).

Overall, I rate "The Birdcage" with 5 out of 5 stars for its constant humor, wonderful acting (especially Nathan Lane and Gene Hackman) and engaging story. The film also demonstrates that families with gay parents can be just as positive (if not more so) than nuclear families. The film received an Oscar nomination for Best Set Decoration. It also received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Comedic/Musical Film. Nathan Lane, who practically became a household name thanks to this film, received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Comedic/Musical Motion Picture. I cannot guarantee that you will enjoy the film if you haven't seen it, but chances are very good that you will find it very entertaining and funny. Therefore, I highly recommend watching it at least once.

Great Film: Fun, Funny and Touching
This is one of my favorites... Nathan Lane is -- pardon the expression -- "screaming-ly" funny as Albert, half of the gay couple whose son returns home from college to announce his engagement to the daughter of ultra-conservative Senator Keeley (fabulously fleshed out by Gene Hackman, whose comedic timing and delivery is superb!). Robin Williams low-key characterization of Armand is the perfect foil for Lane's "to the hilt" performance. Diane Wiest shines as the Senator's dutiful political wife, while Hank Azaria is Armand's and Albert's "hot" Guatemalan house-man/showgirl wanna-be. Nichol's great directing, a fabulous script and the inspired casting make a terrifically entertaining film. It's just so much fun to watch!--- Love it!