In 1993 Tom Hanks won an Oscar for his performance in Philadelphia. He thanked his gay drama teacher in his speech. A false rumor spread that he had outed him. Paul Rudnick used this as the premise for a comedy. In & Out begins with movie star Matt Dillon outing small town teacher Kevin Kline. The catch is that Kline insists he’s not gay. In fact he’s engaged to his long-suffering girlfriend Joan Cusack. The straight townsfolk begin to wonder “is he or isn’t he?” And will the wedding happen? Rudnick wanted to write a “coming-out story that was in no way tragic.” The screenplay is full of jokes about stereotypes, gay and straight, and Barbra Streisand. I found this hilarious in 1997. I’ve cooled on it in 2025. But films don’t need to be timeless. Sometimes they serve as a marker of how far we’ve come.
Let’s take a look in this spoiler filled recap.
Color Me Barbra
Scene One: The Oscars
KEVIN KLINE (High school English teacher): I can’t believe my former student is nominated for an Oscar!
JOAN CUSACK (His fiancée): Everyone in town is watching the ceremony on TV!
GLENN CLOSE: And the Oscar goes to Matt Dillon for the role of noble gay soldier!
MATT DILLON: This win is for the gays! I want to thank my favorite gay teacher Kevin Kline!
KEVIN KLINE: Whaaaa?
Scene Two: School
NEWS REPORTERS: Tell us about gay rights!
KEVIN KLINE: I’M NOT GAY!
TEENS: Well, you’re kinda prissy.
KEVIN KLINE: I’m not. I’m clearly a straight actor who only acts prissy when the script specifically tells me too.
(Makes a limp wrist gesture.)
PRINCIPAL BOB NEWHART: Marry Joan Cusack or you’re fired.
Scene Three: Outings
KEVIN KLINE: I haven’t had sex with Joan Cusack. We’re waiting for marriage.
PRIEST: You’re a 50 year old virgin? You’re gay.
KEVIN KLINE: I could be asexual.
GAY REPORTER TOM SELLECK: It’s 1997. Straight people don’t know what that is.
(Selleck forces a 12 second kiss on Kline.)
KEVIN KLINE: I didn’t enjoy that! Or did I? I’ll take some masculinity instruction tapes.
MACHO TAPE: Straight men don’t dance.
(Tape plays “I Will Survive.” Kline does a silly dance.)
MACHO TAPE: Gurl, ya gay.
Scene Four: Wedding
PRIEST: Do you take this woman as your lawfully wedded wife?
KEVIN KLINE: I’m gay.
JOAN CUSACK: Whaaaa?
Scene Five: Straight People
JOAN CUSACK: I’ve developed an eating disorder! It’s my only character trait!
MATT DILLON’s GIRLFRIEND: I have an eating disorder too. It’s my only character trait.
DEBBIE REYNOLDS: Ladies, this is a big cast. There isn’t time for anyone to have two character traits. I like weddings… and that’s it.
WILFORD BRIMLEY: I love my dead gay son. Wait, he’s not dead?
PRINCIPAL BOB NEWHART: No. Just fired.
Scene Six: Graduation
MATT DILLON: It’s me! Oscar winner Matt Dillon! I say Kevin Kline should not be fired.
PRINCIPAL BOB NEWHART: He’ll turn the teens gay.
AMBIGUOUSLY GAY TEEN: I’m already gay. Or am I?
STRAIGHT TEENS: We’re gay!
EVERYONE ELSE: We’re gay too! Even though we don’t know what that is.
MATT DILLON: Since everyone’s gay, you should re-hire Kevin Kline. For… gay reasons?
KEVIN KLINE: … I have no more lines. I’m making space for straight allies.
THE END
Funny Lady
It’s a screwball comedy without the screw. ~ Matt Baume
Paul Rudnick had written horny gay characters before and would continue after. But In & Out is nearly devoid of sexual desire. Director Frank Oz keeps the tone quirky and chaste. Roger Ebert enjoyed the film but acknowledged it was “aimed primarily at a middle-American heterosexual audience.” I hope it taught some people tolerance. Some of the jokes still make me laugh. Others make me cringe. I prefer Paul Rudnick’s screenplays for Jeffrey and Addams Family Values. The latter has a much better role for Joan Cusack.
What were your thoughts on the film? You can find more of my reviews on The Avocado, Letterboxd and Serializd. My podcast, Rainbow Colored Glasses, can be found here.