Elaine May (Director of The Heartbreak Kid, co-writer for Jim Henson's Labyrinth, Heaven Can Wait, Reds, and Tootise) bounces back after the disaster that was Ishtar (which she wrote and directed) with The Birdcage. She teams back up with long-time collaborator Mike Nichols (Director of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Graduate, Catch-22, Biloxi Blues, and Postcards From the Edge) to craft this American remake of La Cage Aux Folles. She penned the screenplay, and Nichols directs. The screenplay is sharp, clever, hilarious, and witty. Nichol's direction is fantastic, and he never calls attention to himself or his style.
The cast assembled is all very game for their roles. Nathan Lane (as Albert/Starina), Robin Williams (as Armand), and Hank Azaria (as Agador) are perfection in their roles. Nathan Lane as Albert/Starina remains the beating, gooey heart of the entire film. He plays a drag queen diva who hosts some insecurities regarding his body image and his relationship with Armand, the owner of the club he headlines at. Lane excels in the role, and is incredibly memorable and lovable.
Robin Williams is tasked with playing the *ahem* straight-man to Lane's over-the-top diva. Williams is fantastic and fun as Armand. He is given some very funny material to work with despite being the more serious of the two. It's incredibly touching to see the love they both share for Armand's son, Val, and the lengths they will to go to for his happiness. Lane and Williams are perfect and unforgettable as the starring duo of the film.
Hank Azaria is also incredibly memorable as Agador, the very gay houseman who loves to wear different outlandish outfits. He's one of the most consistently funny parts of the film. Dan Futterman (perhaps best known for penning the screenplays for Capote and Foxcatcher) plays Val, Armand's son who is about to be married. The only issue is his fiance's parents are strict conservatives. At a loss, he reluctantly asks his dad and Albert to pretend to be straight for the weekend so as to impress his future in-laws. Futterman takes a character that could come across as unlikeable, and makes him very likable and even relatable.
Calista Flockhart (best known for playing Ally McBeal on the titular TV show) plays Barbara, Val's fiance. She isn't in the film a whole lot, but comes across as very sweet and very kind. Dianne Wiest (aka Elliot's mom in E.T.) and Gene Hackman play Louise and Senator Kevin Keeley, respectively. They are the ultra-conservative parents of Barbara. It's always a joy to see Dianne Wiest on screen, and Gene Hackman shines in the third act (especially whenever he shares the screen with Nathan Lane). Christine Baranski (Best known for her roles in Cruel Intentions, Bowfinger, Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas, and the Mama Mia! films) plays Katharine, Val's estranged mom, and is pretty enjoyable in her few scenes.
The Birdcage was filmed primarily in South Beach, Miami. The Carlyle Hotel acted as the facade for the club Armand owns, and it still stands on Ocean Drive today. The many, many extras featured in the background of the movie are all fantastic, and help add life and color to the environs of the picture.
At the end of the day, the only real complaint I have with The Birdcage is an incredibly minor and trivial one: I can't for the life of me figure out why the filmmakers chose to change Albert's stage name from Zaza (which it was in the OG film and stage musical) to Starina. Zaza is such a great, iconic name and Starina....well, I consider it a step down. That said, this is such a minor nitpick that it doesn't end up detracting anything from the overall product.
The Birdcage is a film about love, acceptance, understanding, and the lengths people will go to for the ones they love. It's a very sweet story that is still fairly powerful and poignant today. If you are looking for high-quality laughs, some touching moments, or you just want to smile and feel good...The Birdcage fits the bill.
Side Note: The scene where the receptionist at Katharine's office is reading Nietzsche while Albert waits and applies blush is so subtly hilarious it hurts.
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