Customer Rating: 



Summary: Comedy was mediocre...but NOT propaganda
Comment: First let me say that i really wanted to like this movie a lot. NOT because it's a gay movie, but because i really like Kevin Kline.
The detractors say it's a propaganda film. How is showing a movie where a gay person is a GOOD person propaganda? Is the Cosby Show black propaganda, because they show a happy, rich black family? Seriously. Don't you right-wing nuts have an abortion doctor to kill or something?
Ok, now on the the movie itself. Kevin Kline did a fairly good job in the movie, as did Newhart and Debbie Reynolds. But to me, the actor who stole the show was Joan Cusack. She was very funny in this role, and that made it watchable. Also, the small town setting & locations were warm and inviting.
But the movie certainly had some problems. With the exception of the supporting cast, the comedy (particularly what they gave Kevin Kline to work with) was pretty weak. It was predictable, easy, old, hacky, and really just played upon the most BASIC stereotypes of gay people. I was offended. But not because of the stereotypes. I was offended comedically because of the lack of clever writing. Yes, yes, we all know many gay people like Streisand, dancing, snappy dressing, and the arts. It's tired. This might have been funny to me 20 or 30 years ago. But now? Uggghhh.... Somehow, they gave Cusack all the best comedy. She played the perfect comedic foil for Kline, as she was so fragile, so lacking in self-esteem, and constantly on the verge of a nervous breakdown. "Is everyone gay?!"
I enjoyed the overall story that was being told. I really just wish the comedic writing was better.