In & Out (1997)
Although the 1999 comedy Three to Tango came afterwards, and could be seen as a pseudo-copy of In & Out, I liked it infinitely better. In both movies, a man’s work and personal life suffer for the simple reason that he’s perceived to be gay. Matthew Perry chooses to go along with the rumor because it will benefit him at work, but in this precursor, Kevin Kline fights it. After all, he has a fiancé, Joan Cusack, his teaching job is in jeopardy, and he lives in a very small town. Both movies make fun of different behaviors American culture deems “gay”, and both movies show the social consequences of having such a rumor float around. I found In & Out to be a bit more stereotypical and pushy. How much a man likes to dance, cook, or coordinate interior patterns (yes, I’m melding both movies for the moment), shouldn’t be the yardstick of how “gay” he is. If he’s incredibly stressed out and can’t go to bed with his girlfriend, it doesn’t automatically mean he’s gay. In & Out simplifies things, which is expected since it’s a comedy, but it feels a tad judgmental.
If you’re just in the mood to laugh at a movie that could never have been made twenty years later, and you think the preview to this one looks funny, you’ll probably be entertained. You’ll get to see the classic dance scene as Kevin rocks out to “I Will Survive”, Tom Selleck give an unexpectedly long smooch, and Matt Dillon as a blonde. So, there are some good points.
More Kevin Kline movies here!
If you’re just in the mood to laugh at a movie that could never have been made twenty years later, and you think the preview to this one looks funny, you’ll probably be entertained. You’ll get to see the classic dance scene as Kevin rocks out to “I Will Survive”, Tom Selleck give an unexpectedly long smooch, and Matt Dillon as a blonde. So, there are some good points.
More Kevin Kline movies here!