Comedy Movie Reviews

Admittedly, this is one of my personal favorites – in no small measure due to the hilarious performance by Hank Azaria, the flamingly gay Guatemalan maid to Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. Highly experienced director Mike Nichols The Graduate(1967); Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?(1966); Silkwood(1983); Catch-22(1970); Postcards from the Edge(1990), and way too many more box office hits to list. Williams and Lane are married, and own/run a gay nightclub in Florida’s notorious South Beach area. As a result of a one-night stand many years prior, Williams has a [straight] son, which he and Lane raise. While the son is away at college he becomes engaged to the lovely Calista Flockhart, daughter of a powerful ultra-conservative senator, played brilliantly by Gene Hackman. Hackman and his wife (Dianne Wiest) have the chauffeur drive them across several states to South Beach to meet the boy’s family. All the while, the media vultures are desperately seeking an interview with Hackman about the massive scandal: the result of his right-wing coalition partner being found dead with an underage hooker. The setup for this movie is eminently enjoyable, but when Hackman and family arrive at the gay night club – Williams and Lane live above it – that’s when the fun really kicks in. During a dinner-party-of-errors, Lane portrays William’s son’s mother, and Hackman becomes quite taken with ‘her.’ As you can imagine, this film is overflowing with stellar acting from a veteran cast that really clicks at every turn. The script, also, is exceptionally well done, with only one or two brief slumps. There are a number of scenes that are laugh-out-loud funny – many of which include Azaria. You’ll enjoy this one alone, or with a friend. Watch it when you need a good laugh!
My favorite scene: When the mother of William’s son arrives at the party. (I have to have a second favorite scene, since this is a favorite of mine.) When Williams teaches Lane how to be ‘manly’ at the restaurant.