MovieChat Forums > The Birdcage (1996) Discussion > Are any gay men offended by this film?

Are any gay men offended by this film?


I just want your opinion since they were shown as so "swishy".

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Nope. This doesn't represent every gay man :)

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Hi and thanks for your honest answer!

I just thought it was too over the top and it would offend me if I was gay.

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I was only basing my query on another group that is much maligned and prejudiced against- African Americans.

The N.A.A.C.P. who campaigned against the AMOS & ANDY show on TV in the fifties, said that the show portrays their race as lazy, sluggish, fraudulent, and cheating individuals even though many on the show did have professions such as doctors, lawyers, and judges. The organization did enough to get the show cancelled.

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Apparantly they didn't. They probably thought it was halarious, just like everyone else did.

"check the imdb cast list before asking who portrayed who in movies"

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I don't understand this comment you made- "check the imdb cast list before asking who portrayed who in movies"

Who are you referring too?

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That's my signature statement. It wasn't directed at you.

"check the imdb cast list before asking who portrayed who in movies please"

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so sorry this is so late but I just watched the Birdcage and was going through the posts-
I remember the Amos and Andy show and how dreadful it was but I wonder how black people see Meet the Browns-

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my best friend is a gay man and he loves this movie. isn't offended at all. he's not very feminine either.

Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion!

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I don't understand this comment you made- "Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion!"?

Please explain.

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That's a signature statement as well.

"check the imdb cast list before asking who portrayed who in movies please"

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Ahh Sparkle Motion...Donnie Darko

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Yes.


I was similarly offended by "Will & Grace" but I am in the minority, on both.

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Quite some time ago I had on 'The Birdcage' while doing some housework when a gay friend of mine came by to give my boyfriend at the time a ride to work. When he saw what was playing on my TV he was like; 'Why the hell do you own this crap?' He then explained to me why he was extremely offended by the film and it's over the top portrayal of gay life. When they left I remember him yelling 'Bye Raina, enjoy your big fat gay movie!' It was a humorous exchange on both our parts but I always think of that when I rewatch it.

"Living our maggot lives, dreaming of becoming flies."

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At last someone is offended! Yours is the only answer I received in stating that someone is offended.

If I was gay I would be offended by this film even though there were many laughs! I don't know, Maybe I have a thin skin!

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The Birdcage is a movie about gay people for straight people. It reassures them that those silly gays just want to dance and sing and have fun.
The gays are harmless. A simple folk. They don't want to do anything serious like lawyers, doctors and engineers. The only want to work in the entertainment and hospitality industries.

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As a straight man I can see why a gay person might be offended by this film. It certainly trades in stereotypes. But you need to consider it in the context of its time--and even more so, the original French film which came out in the 1970s. Back then, it was unusual for a movie to feature openly gay protagonists, to make them unabashedly sympathetic, and to depict a homophobic politician as a ridiculous clown. By the 1990s when the American remake came out this wasn't quite as revolutionary but still was ahead of most other Hollywood treatments of the subject.

I will say one thing about the remake: I had the subtle feeling that Robin Williams was slightly uncomfortable in the role. He had done camp-gay routines before in his standup, and I suspect that's how he wanted to approach this material--unfortunately for him, the movie also demanded that he portray his character as a human being in a loving (if exasperated) relationship with his long-time partner. The original movie made that relationship believable; the remake, not so much.

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Nope. I love it.

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No. I think it's hilarious!

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GOOD FOR YOU!

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I'm not offended about swishy men, I'm secure in my manhood. I like men but The Birdcage is a comedy of errors, it's easy to play up the stereotypes and go for the cheap laughs

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