Such a frustrating disappointment

A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

When you are outed on the Oscars, a la Tom Hanks' teacher from the year he won for "Philadelphia", how are you going to react when you happen to be engaged....to a woman? That's the case with respectable Kevin Kline who is preparing to marry the high strung Joan Cusack. What happens the day that Matt Dillon, as a fictional actor, outs Kline on the Oscars, turns into a two hour horror movie for Kline but a fun filled laugh fest for the rest of us, ultimately because it's so silly. Everybody is all of a sudden looking at him different, and neurotic Cusack obviously thinks that she turned Kline gay. It's a "whatever floats your boat" for his mother Debbie Reynolds and father Wilford Brimley, and pretty much mom already knew. Their small town is not only abuzz with this gossip, but abuzz with the onslaught of the sleazy press, out to get a story....any story.The scene-stealing Kline has some mighty tough competition here between over-the-top Cusack, gay icon Reynolds, brassy Brimley and hunky Tom Selleck, cast against type as a gay reporter who takes his own interest in Kline. It's obvious that in the early 1980's, a lot of gay men had the Tom Selleck look (most notably a few famous soap opera actors of the time), even though it was obvious that Selleck was as straight as a future Australian California governator. But for straight actors to take on gay characters and only to use the minimal amount of stereotypes is respectful, sometimes a bit too much in this p.c. world of ours, and even though the shock in this conservative town is great, everybody is just oh so nice about it. Cusack delivers the best performance, and she became known for her hysterical take no prisoners performances as drag queen like characters who were basically gay men trapped in a woman's body. When she goes on her rant, "Is everybody in this town gay?", you'll have to watch how hard you laugh, because I was in pain for hours afterwards when I first saw it. Dillon, playing a serious actor not unlike himself, shows his likability and the easy going manner that made him popular, if not the humongous star he should have been over certain mega stars consumed with ego. Kline adds this onto the list of unforgettable characters he played in "Sophie's Choice", "The Big Easy", "A Fish Called Wanda" and "Soapdish", among others. This is a fun film that spoofed a real life incident, although it would have been more realistic for there to have been a darker side to the town's acceptance of Kline, as harsh as that reality is.

Howard Brackett is a high school teacher from Greenleaf, Indiana, with everything going for him. A nice job, an attractive fiancé named Emily and respect from everyone. Everything changes in one night when a former high school student, Cameron Drake, now a famous actor, makes an acceptance speech after receiving an Academy Award, and 'outs' Howard as his inspiration for his role. The media circus immediately begins as Howard desperately tries keep his life from falling apart by protesting that the whole thing with Cameron's speech is a simple misunderstanding. While most of the townspeople want to believe Howard, Peter Malloy, a gay TV reporter in town to cover the story, suspects that the teacher is in denial.....It's pure fluff from beginning to end, it's totally childish in that old school farcical sort of way, and it's depiction of a small American Town would make a diabetic want to double on their insulin, but the film is so harmless, and charming, that you cannot help but like it.Kline as usual is on top form here, and as high as the concept is, Oz thankfully doesn't go for any smut, and homosexual innuendo that would riddle the film if it were made today.Greenleaf is constantly sunny, everyone is happy, and knows everyone else, and it's the idyllic place to live, there is no hatred in Howard's world, and Oz ups the happiness right through until halfway into the end credits.Many will balk at the film, but this is harmless stuff, ideal for all the family on a wet Sunday afternoon.

Other than what must have been a desperate measure on the part of Kevin Kline for taking on the title role, there is nothing good about this movie. For my taste and sensibilities this film is truly out in left field somewhere. It's not that the acting is bad...it's the story that I simply do not and cannot fathom...and I happen to be gay! It is said that this piece of brilliance was hatched from a true story concerning the acceptance speech given by Tom Hanks, upon winning his best actor Oscar for "Philadelphia." During the "Let me thank everyone for everything that has happened throughout my life" phase it seems Mr. Hanks accidentally outed one of his teachers and another student in the bargain. So, here we have the premise for "In & Out," presumably a spoof on that "Oooops" moment, but even as a spoof it fails. It's simply not tongue-in-cheek enough, funny enough or ridiculous enough to cover the territory. Using the same backdrop as the original incident, the Academy Awards, and with many, many fine uncredited stars appearing, the writer offers up a very well respected, well liked teacher and coach as the outed victim. He is from the mid-west and is just about to be married to a "Twinkie" eating and overfed, Joan Cusack. It seems that on Oscar night, the entire population of the town is watching the broadcast because a native son is up for the award for Best Actor and they are suddenly catapulted into a world they know very little of because of his acceptance speech. There doesn't seem to be any other closeted or suspected homosexuals in the town...and certainly no one that is out! OK...fair enough, but from here the story takes on an Oz like twist. Our outed teacher does not lose his fiancé, friends, family or the support of his students and while he does get fired from his teaching job, comes back "to support his students" at graduation and sits on the stage with the school officials! Scores of reporters descend upon the town to cover this news "event" and one of the reporters (Tom Selleck) turns out to be gay! There is neither horror or hilarity at this unveiling, however, and our teacher tries to show he is not gay. He is being married in just a few days and the wedding is still on. In all the situations set up to make one laugh, the writer falls short of his intended reaction. In the scene with the priest we should have roared, the scene listing the many tips that might have revealed his sexuality should have made us fall down in laughter, his fiancé's continued befuddled reaction to all of it, the revelation that he has never slept with his intended and his hasty attempt to do so before the nuptials, the bachelor party replete with blow-up doll and good-old-boy innuendo, his parents puzzled reaction and ongoing stiff upper lip demeanor, the eventual wedding service when he finally utters the dreaded words..."I'm gay"...all should have us sitting with tears rolling down our cheeks from laughter but it all went for nothing. In all, it would seem his only real penance is that he ends up not winning the "Teacher of the Year" award! There is but one very funny moment in the film and that is when the lady who uses a walker is dancing to "Macho Man" by The Village People near the end of the film. Paul Rudnick, who wrote the screenplay, is himself a gay man and, as such, I cannot understand his treatment of the subject matter. This should have been a hilarious piece for both the homosexual and heterosexual communities and might have brought them closer together, through laughter, as co-inhabitants and neighbors in a crazy world. The film has not accomplished that either. Mr. Rudnick just didn't capitalize on the funny scenarios he, himself, created because he gave all of them short shrift. I only know that I bought the film, watched the film and am selling my copy as soon as humanly possible to some poor unsuspecting movie goer who cares naught for quality, truth or real comedy!.

Frank Oz directed 'In & Out' is indeed a Funny film. It gets it's humor right, and there are a couple of sequences that manage to make you laugh. Also, the performances in here, are top-notch! 'In & Out' tells the story of a teacher, played superbly by Kevin Kline, who, begins to question his sexuality after a former student makes a comment about him at the Academy Awards.Paul Rudnick's Screenplay is funnily, inspired by Tom Hanks's speech when he accepted his 1994 Oscar for 'Philadelphia', in which he mentioned his high-school drama coach, and his former classmate, to be, two of the finest gay Americans, he knew. The Writing in the first hour, especially, is hilarious. The climax is absurd, but is mentionable nonetheless. Frank Oz has directed this comedy with ease. Cinematography is perfect.Now to the performances! Kevin Kline is superb, as always. It's indeed time people start calling Kline as a Hollywood Icon! Joan Cusack is fantastic! Matt Dillon as the over-the-top Oscar-winning actor, is extremely amusing. Tom Selleck is lively. Debbie Reynolds is absolutely lovable. Others are perfect.On the whole, A Well-Done Comedy, that truly deserves a watch. Thumbs Up!