THE BIRDCAGE

"THE BIRDCAGE"
(1996) (Robin Williams, Gene Hackman) (R)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Moderate	None	Minor	None	None

Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Minor	None	None	None	Heavy

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Moderate	Moderate	Minor	Moderate	None

QUICK TAKE:: Comedy: A gay couple's straight son is getting married to the daugther of a staunchly conversative family.

PLOT:: Armand Goldman (ROBIN WILLIAMS) is the owner of a drag bar in South Beach, Florida and his lover, Alberto (NATHAN LANE), is the star performer. Out of the blue, Armand's son arrives and announces he's to marry the daughter of very conservative U.S. Senator Keeley (GENE HACKMAN) and his wife (DIANNE WIEST). From that moment on, it's pandemonium as the Keeley's plan on visiting the Goldman's who must turn their lives upside down and act as a heterosexual family in order not to offend the Keeley's and dash the plans of the pending marriage.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Robin Williams and the concept of people in drag will remind kids of "Mrs. Doubtfire," but this is a more adult movie and Williams isn't in drag.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R: For language.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: ROBIN WILLIAMS plays a gay nightclub owner.
NATHAN LANE plays a dramatically wimpy drag queen.
GENE HACKMAN plays a conservative U.S. Senator who's smooth on the outside, but barbed on the inside.
DIANNE WIEST plays his flighty but nice wife.; NATHAN LANE plays a dramatically wimpy drag queen.
GENE HACKMAN plays a conservative U.S. Senator who's smooth on the outside, but barbed on the inside.
DIANNE WIEST plays his flighty but nice wife.; GENE HACKMAN plays a conservative U.S. Senator who's smooth on the outside, but barbed on the inside.
DIANNE WIEST plays his flighty but nice wife.; DIANNE WIEST plays his flighty but nice wife.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:: Read through the listings for scene content, but focus on "Sex/Nudity" and "Topics to Talk About" where most of the possibly objectionable material occurs. Although the subject matter might make you think otherswise, this movie does focus on "the family" in both the traditional and non-traditional sense. Some, however, will probably be offended by the subject material and thus should be considered forewarned.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: People are seen drinking in the bar.
There are several scenes where Armand drinks wine, his adult son drinks wine, and Armand and his son's mother drink champagne.
When the two families get together for dinner, there is a lot of drinking of cocktails and wine.; There are several scenes where Armand drinks wine, his adult son drinks wine, and Armand and his son's mother drink champagne.
When the two families get together for dinner, there is a lot of drinking of cocktails and wine.; When the two families get together for dinner, there is a lot of drinking of cocktails and wine.

BLOOD/GORE: None.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: Depending on your political/social stance, the flaming liberalism or staunch conservatism present might rub you as a bad attitude.

FRIGHTENING/TENSE SCENES: None.

GUNS/WEAPONS: None.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Dressing up in drag.
Misrepresentation of the truth.
Phrases: "Fag," and "slut."; Misrepresentation of the truth.
Phrases: "Fag," and "slut."; Phrases: "Fag," and "slut."

JUMP SCENES: None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): None.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): None.

PROFANITY: 8 "f" words, 4 "s" words, 6 ass words, 4 damns, 2 slang words for penis ("p" and "c" words), 1 Bastard, 1 sob.

SEX/NUDITY: A man adjust his penis in his bikini bottom (nothing is seen).
The Senator's daughter tells him that she's been sleeping with her boyfriend for a year and they've both been tested (for diseases).
There is talk of another Senator dying in bed with an underage prostitute.
A twenty-two year old man is told he's "well hung."
There are statues in Armand's home with large phalluses.
Many male and females butts are seen in thong bathing suits on the beach.
There is a mis-informed reference to homosexual images on pieces of a dining room set.; The Senator's daughter tells him that she's been sleeping with her boyfriend for a year and they've both been tested (for diseases).
There is talk of another Senator dying in bed with an underage prostitute.
A twenty-two year old man is told he's "well hung."
There are statues in Armand's home with large phalluses.
Many male and females butts are seen in thong bathing suits on the beach.
There is a mis-informed reference to homosexual images on pieces of a dining room set.; There is talk of another Senator dying in bed with an underage prostitute.
A twenty-two year old man is told he's "well hung."
There are statues in Armand's home with large phalluses.
Many male and females butts are seen in thong bathing suits on the beach.
There is a mis-informed reference to homosexual images on pieces of a dining room set.; A twenty-two year old man is told he's "well hung."
There are statues in Armand's home with large phalluses.
Many male and females butts are seen in thong bathing suits on the beach.
There is a mis-informed reference to homosexual images on pieces of a dining room set.; There are statues in Armand's home with large phalluses.
Many male and females butts are seen in thong bathing suits on the beach.
There is a mis-informed reference to homosexual images on pieces of a dining room set.; Many male and females butts are seen in thong bathing suits on the beach.
There is a mis-informed reference to homosexual images on pieces of a dining room set.; There is a mis-informed reference to homosexual images on pieces of a dining room set.

SMOKING: People are seen smoking in a bar.
Armand smokes cigarettes as does his son.; Armand smokes cigarettes as does his son.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: The families are upset that their kids are getting married -- but other than some yelling, nothing bad happens.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: Drag bar with female impersonator/transvestites
Armand and Alberto are gay lovers, we see them kiss once, hold hands twice.
Talk of another senator dieing in bed with an underage prostitute.
During dinner, talk of abortion and killing mothers who have abortions (said in jest, for laughs).
Soup bowls have symbols that look like "boys leapfrogging each other" a reference to homosexuality.; Armand and Alberto are gay lovers, we see them kiss once, hold hands twice.
Talk of another senator dieing in bed with an underage prostitute.
During dinner, talk of abortion and killing mothers who have abortions (said in jest, for laughs).
Soup bowls have symbols that look like "boys leapfrogging each other" a reference to homosexuality.; Talk of another senator dieing in bed with an underage prostitute.
During dinner, talk of abortion and killing mothers who have abortions (said in jest, for laughs).
Soup bowls have symbols that look like "boys leapfrogging each other" a reference to homosexuality.; During dinner, talk of abortion and killing mothers who have abortions (said in jest, for laughs).
Soup bowls have symbols that look like "boys leapfrogging each other" a reference to homosexuality.; Soup bowls have symbols that look like "boys leapfrogging each other" a reference to homosexuality.

VIOLENCE: None.

Reviewed March 16, 1996

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