In & Out (1997)

A young actor (Matt Dillon) upon winning an Oscar thanks his high school teacher (Kevin Kline) and in doing so, outs him as gay. This is news to the teacher who's getting married to a fellow teacher (Joan Cusack) in just a few days. Directed by Frank Oz (LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS), this is another 90s comedy that hasn't aged all that well. It's a one joke premise dragged out to 90 minutes and though its heart is in the right place, it's phony! Dealing with serious subjects in a comedic way is a proven method of getting a point across in an entertaining way (9 TO 5 to name just one example) but its anything for a laugh screenplay only diminishes what it's trying to say. For example, the movie for which Dillon wins his best actor Oscar is not only terrible, but it's supposed to be a serious movie but the script plays it for laughs. It would never win an acting Oscar! It panders to its intended audience. To be fair, there are genuine laugh out loud moments of wit but the whole project seems calculated right down to its happy ending. The only performer that stands out is Joan Cusack (in an Oscar nominated performance), who's hilarious but she also authentic and sincere. We're laughing while seeing her very real sense of betrayal and heartbreak. With Tom Selleck, Glenn Close, Debbie Reynolds, Whoopi Goldberg, Wilford Brimley, Shawn Hatosy, Deborah Rush, Dan Hedaya, Debra Monk and Lauren Ambrose.