Movie Reviews for In & Out

In & Out

	List Price: ~~$9.98~~ Our Price: $7.99 You Save: $1.99 (20%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $3.80 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases

Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada

Movie Reviews of In & Out

Movie Review: A decent comedy.
Summary: 3 Stars

In and Out has me torn.
On one hand you have a comedy that revolves around a gay character.
The script is ok, the acting is ok, there are a few genuinely funny moments.
That's where the compliments end.
I have the same problem with this movie as I did with Brokeback Mountain.
Why is it, every movie Hollywood pumps out has to depict gay characters as either dysfunctional (Brokeback),
make us into something hetero America can laugh at (this movie), or as serial killers, (Basic Instinct)???????
Can Hollywood PLEASE make on movie that depicts gays in a somewhat positive light?
In and Out is a decent comedy, that I recommend you rent, I can't help but feel further shortchanged by Hollywood.

Movie Review: Comedy was mediocre...but NOT propaganda
Summary: 3 Stars

First let me say that i really wanted to like this movie a lot. NOT because it's a gay movie, but because i really like Kevin Kline.

The detractors say it's a propaganda film. How is showing a movie where a gay person is a GOOD person propaganda? Is the Cosby Show black propaganda, because they show a happy, rich black family? Seriously. Don't you right-wing nuts have an abortion doctor to kill or something?

Ok, now on the the movie itself. Kevin Kline did a fairly good job in the movie, as did Newhart and Debbie Reynolds. But to me, the actor who stole the show was Joan Cusack. She was very funny in this role, and that made it watchable. Also, the small town setting & locations were warm and inviting.

But the movie certainly had some problems. With the exception of the supporting cast, the comedy (particularly what they gave Kevin Kline to work with) was pretty weak. It was predictable, easy, old, hacky, and really just played upon the most BASIC stereotypes of gay people. I was offended. But not because of the stereotypes. I was offended comedically because of the lack of clever writing. Yes, yes, we all know many gay people like Streisand, dancing, snappy dressing, and the arts. It's tired. This might have been funny to me 20 or 30 years ago. But now? Uggghhh.... Somehow, they gave Cusack all the best comedy. She played the perfect comedic foil for Kline, as she was so fragile, so lacking in self-esteem, and constantly on the verge of a nervous breakdown. "Is everyone gay?!"

I enjoyed the overall story that was being told. I really just wish the comedic writing was better.

Movie Review: Oh Mary, this is a fantabulous movie!!
Summary: 5 Stars

We have LOVED this movie for years. It's Kevin Kline at his comedy best, playing a gay man thinking he's straight. What a hoot! And Joan Cusack is his beautiful bride to be. Fun for the whole family. We had it on vhs and decided that we loved it so much, we wanted it on dvd. A movie that should not be missed.

Movie Review: Queer Fun fir All
Summary: 4 Stars

"In and Out"

Queer Fun For All

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

I love Kevin Kline. I loved him in "Sophie's Choice" and in "A Fish Named Wanda". I even liked him as Cole Porter but I adored him in "In and Out". I thought "In and Out" to be an extremely good and funny film even though it lacked the bite of most gay-themed films. This was such a squeaky clean movie that even children can see it--but that is not a bad thing--in fact, it is rather a positive thing to thick that kids can watch us and not be infected. The comedy n "In and Out" as a broad range--from the ridiculous to the sublime, from the physical to the mental. Not all gay themed movies have a sinister intent or a hidden agenda and "In and Out" proves that beautifully. Here is a movie that was made for the sole purpose of entertaining and if this movie caused anyone to think then that was the byproduct of the excellent casting and acting.
Howard Brackett (Kline) is a high school teacher who is about to take the big step into marriage. His fianc?e, Emily Montgomery (Joan Cusack) adores him but the town is more excited about the hometown boy being nominated for an Academy Award then they are about the upcoming wedding (in three days).
When one of his former students wins an Oscar in a film in which he plays a gay soldier, he thanks Howard in his acceptance speech and outs him as gay. What the film does is follow what happens after the speech.
This is not a great film by any means but it is entertainment. Maybe it wasn't all that I wanted it to be but it is a good fun movie. Kline's character is a composite of all those clich?d coming out stories that we get so much of.
Some movies are made to make us think, some to excite and some to lift our spirits. Here is a movie that only wants to make us laugh. As one of the first mainstream movies to deal with the issue of gayness, it was blessed to be so unique. It is a well intentioned, good natured, non-threatening and politically correct, albeit old fashioned look at gay men.
It takes anti-gay attitudes and made them the butt of jokes instead of the reasons for joking. Those who threatened the stereotypes were the mocked in the film and the insult took on a whole new aura.
The movie somewhat mirrored the Tom Hanks outing of his own high school teacher when Hanks won his second Oscar for "Philadelphia". When Kline's student wins the Oscar, his compliment to his teacher turns his hometown upside down. Kline plays his part of the non-gay, gay teacher to perfection and Tom Selleck as his soon-to be-lover turns in a surprise comedy performance.
I have read some really bad reviews of the film by people who said it did not go far enough or that it was hypocritical. I think that if you watch it for what it rally is--a light comedy--then you can't do anything but enjoy it.