The Birdcage
Directed by Mike Nichols
- comedy
- romance
The story
A gay cabaret owner and his drag queen partner agree to put up a false heterosexual front so that their son can introduce them to his fiancée's conservative parents.
What it’s like
Bright, sun-warmed South Beach interiors carry most of the look here: a flamboyant nightclub glowing with pink and turquoise stage light, a cluttered, color-saturated home full of feathers and mirrors, and a stiff, beige suburban household that the story's squabbling warmth gradually fills with colour. Mike Nichols favours wide, stagey two-shots and theatrical blocking that lets the actors play off one another, with the camera mostly watching rather than hunting for effects. The score is light and jazzy, with bouncy cabaret numbers and comic stingers. The vibe is breezy and farcical, warm underneath, with a sharp edge of satire aimed at political hypocrisy. It suits a lazy weekend afternoon or a laughing comfort rewatch. Pacing is brisk and dialogue-driven, the romance is gentle, and the emotional arc follows a long-married pair who must reckon with what they've hidden from their son and each other. Intensity is low: there is no real violence, and the sexuality is played for comedy, though a few crude jokes and innuendo come with the territory. It is for viewers who want big-hearted, ensemble comedy with a generous, affectionate view of chosen family.
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