The Birdcage Review: Funny Yet Flawed

The Birdcage Review on Rainbow Popcorn: A 90s classic full of star power but not without a couple of cringe moments.

Let’s dive into our review of The Birdcage, a 90s comedy that brings together Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, and a star-studded cast—including “that guy who plays the son.” Based on the French play La Cage Aux Folles (which we know nothing about except that it inspired this film), The Birdcage is full of laughs, colour, and the occasional questionable choice.

Visually, The Birdcage is as 90s as it gets. Directed by Mike Nichols with set design by Bo Welch, the movie perfectly presents the vibrant, colourful home of Armand (Williams) and Albert (Lane) and sets up the stark contrast to the dull, boring house of the conservative straight couple played by Gene Hackman and Diane Weist. The opening shot of the film is particularly great, sweeping across the beach and into the nightclub—yes, there are bare butts, but it’s all part of the fun.

When it comes to representation, The Birdcage is a mixed bag. The language used to describe Armand and Albert’s relationship feels old-fashioned—they’re more “friends and companions” than a romantic couple, and so in that sense shies away a little from the queerness of the film’s central couple. The film also adds another item to the list of characters Hanz Azaria probably shouldn’t have played. Agador is played for laughs and played well by Azaria but looking back now I doubt the same decision would have been made. Then there’s the Native American drag number—that was cringey even for 1996. It’s a reminder that while the film is fun, it doesn’t always get everything right.

What really makes The Birdcage shine is the chemistry between Williams and Lane. Their comedic timing is spot-on, and the one-liners keep coming, especially in the hilarious dinner scene where the characters try to pretend to be something they’re not. Gene Hackman, as always, plays the straight-laced jerk perfectly, adding to the fun. It’s a classic case of a comedic mix-up and while there are moments where, as queer viewers, we cringe as the leads have to pretend to be something they’re not, it culminates in a heartwarming speech and a necessary happy ending. This brings the idea of acceptance full circle and adds so much depth to the story, and Lane’s and Williams’ performances.

So, is The Birdcage iconic? Definitely. Is it perfect? Not quite. But with a catchy soundtrack and a cast that keeps you laughing, it’s a must-watch for fans of comedy in general, not just queer comedy. Overall Rainbow Popcorn gave it a 38.5 out of 50, though some representation issues bring it down a bit. Still, it’s way better than last week’s disaster, Stonewall. Check out our full review on the podcast, where we break it all down.