Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #239532 in DVD
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Dutch, English, French
• Dubbed in: French
• Running time: 92 minutes

Amazon.com
When a Hollywood heartthrob (Matt Dillon, playing a Brad Pitt look-alike) "outs" his small-town high-school drama teacher Howard Brackett (Kevin Kline) during the Oscar telecast, the entire (fictional) town of Greenleaf, Indiana, wonders if Howard's really gay. More to the point, Howard wonders, too--quite a dilemma considering his pending marriage to Emily (Joan Cusack), who's patiently tolerated a three-year engagement. While a TV reporter (Tom Selleck) covers the ensuing furor, screenwriter Paul Rudnick and director Frank Oz make good-natured humor their highest priority, turning the "crisis" of coming out into a laugh-out-loud spin on conventional romantic comedy. The result is a film that delivers constant laughs and a golden opportunity for its fine cast to show off their considerable comedic talents--especially Cusack, who deservedly earned an Oscar nomination for her hilarious performance as the bride who's almost as confused as her would-be husband. That Rudnick and Oz have made a great comedy that's both old-fashioned and relevant to the late 20th century is no small feat, but In & Out has no hidden agenda apart from its triumphant desire to entertain. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

Funny, Touching, and Very Capra-esque
Many people complain that this film deals in stereotypes and dips into feel-good-preachiness toward the end--all of which is quite true. But for all the controversy surrounding the premise of a presumably straight highschool teacher who is "outed"--maybe falsely, maybe not--by a former student on national television, "IN & OUT" is essentially a classic Capra-style comedy, and comical stereotypes and feel-good-preachiness is part of the basic equipment. It is precisely the sort of film Capra might have made in 1939 with Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur, only brought up to date and given a modern spin.

The performances, particularly from Kline, Cusack, and a very unexpected Tom Selleck, are nothing short of brilliant; the script is both witty and funny and moves a long at a fast pace; and everything about the films leaves you wishing (unless you happen to be hysterically homophobic) that things really turned out like that in real life. Realistic movie? Of course not--but then neither was "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" or "Meet John Doe" or "It Happened One Night." Kind and clever and witty and lots of fun? Absolutely. And any one who is kind and clever and witty will have lots of fun watching it.

Unlikely High Comedy
Given the pretext of a modern 'gay' comedy and the phrases, "gay stereotypes", "queer smaltz" and "hidden agenda" all come to mind. Add to that the sensitive subject of a high school teacher in Indiana being 'outed' on national television and you would seem to have the recipe for an instant disaster.

Director Frank Oz and screenwriter Paul Rudnick turn potential controversy and a touchy subject into a riotous, slapstick comedy with some of the wittiest and funniest dialogue in years. Kevin Kline as the 'possibly' gay teacher and Joan Cusack as the insufferable and patient fiancee are in top form (Cusack was nominated for an Oscar). The supporting cast are all veterans and even Tom Selleck does a turn for the better with his acting.

There is nothing but hilarity, joy and even tenderness between the characters with unexpected twists and character turnabouts that will soften even the most jaded. This is worth seeing if only for Joan Cusack where with a mouth full of bar nuts runs screaming into the street yelling, "Is this the twilight zone?!" Yes, the ending is happy - even more so.

Is he or isn't he?

The movie had a refreshing start - an acceptance speech by a past student (Matt Dillon) on the Oscar night upset the life of Mr. Brackett (Kevin Kline), a high school teacher in a great BIG small town Greenleaf, Indiana. He was gay according to the student, but not according to himself and all who knew him. He was also to get married to his colleague Ms Montgomery (Joan Cusack) within a week! What followed was denial, confusion and search for his own inclination, with the help of a national TV host (Tom Selleck).

Kevin Kline was consistently good and one of the best scenes was when he tested himself by playing a tape "exploring one's masculinity" at home. He failed in almost all the tests given by the deep bass voice on the tape, none more so with the dancing test. He simply could not refrain from responding to the rhythm, music and pleasure. His dance sequence was analogous to the one by Hugh Grant in Love Actually. Only that Kevin Kline moved like Jennifer Beals in Flashdance!

Even though the second half of the story conformed to the usual Hollywood formula, the gay man stereotyped and the u-turn of the townsfolk response not quite convincing, the movie was very watchable as a whole. Tom Selleck in a supporting role was charming. And the picture-postcard town provided ever stretching green pastures, beautiful small houses and a stunning view of stately school campus.