"What a fabulous window treatment!"
IN AND OUT (R) 
Reviewed September 19, 1997
It's hard to tell exactly when the subject of "coming out" became funny in Hollywood, but with TV's Ellen Degeneris' hilarious (and commercially successful) "outing" last year, it was only a matter of time before a movie came along playing on the same topic. In In and Out, Kevin Kline stars as Howard Brackett, a small-town high school English teacher who gets "outed" by a former student (Matt Dillon) while accepting an Academy Award. With only one week before his wedding, and with a swarm of media reporters flooding into his little town, Howard begins to spread his message: "I'm not GAY!!!" Trouble is, Howard's neat, clean, nice, teaches Drama, AND likes Barbara Streisand movies. Gee, what's everyone supposed to think?
A movie like In and Out always runs the risk of becoming a "one joke film"--one of those theatergoing experiences that lasts an hour and a half too long. Fortunately, In and Out doesn't fall into this trap. Playfully caricaturing everything from the gay community, to supermodels, TV reporters, and small towns, this film makes it clear that it does not intend to take itself (or anyone else) with any degree of seriousness. In and Out is out for laughs, and you will laugh. Along the way, you'll also be treated to some great performances by Joan Cusack, Debbie Reynolds, Matt Dillon, Bob Newhart, and Tom Selleck. Kevin Kline, of course, is expectedly funny in his booty-shaking, poetry-reading role, keeping Howard both likeable and believable through the length of the film.
With just enough "surprises" to keep things interesting, and with a light, funny, and energetic tone throughout, In and Out definitely makes "coming out" fun to watch. It's not exactly Shakespeare, but then again Shakespeare never got a chance to hear The Village People...
Responses from cyberspace--thanks for writing!
Jorge gives this movie stars: "Over
rated by Hollywood's gay community and those that find the gay life so
important to express." (11/1/97)
