MovieChat Forums > In & Out (1997) Discussion > I am not sure if I am to be entertained ...

I am not sure if I am to be entertained or offended.

posted 6 years ago by artguylarry (498)
3 replies | jump to latest

There was a time when I thought I loved this movie, but I haven't seen it in years. Maybe I never recognized the fact that the thought of being gay forced Howard to HATE himself for it, as if it were something one should hate himself FOR. Maybe I've forgotten there was a time when it was more common to be threatened with losing your job (still happens but much less common). This was after all 22 years ago. Maybe I was too fresh out to know I was supposed to be offended by it, only having come out the year prior.

I am trying to like it now, but I am having difficulty.

Then Kevin Kline dances in his flannel and blue jeans. Fuck.

[–] TMC-4 (20121) 6 years ago

http://forums.previously.tv/topic/51893-well-that-wouldnt-work-now-things-from-movies-that-are-outdated-or-no-longer-politically-correct/?do=findComment&comment=5027410

I think a movie like In and Out would be considered a little offensive today, if only because the premise is that it starts with a guy being unintentionally outed as gay because he acts a certain way (he likes Barbra Streisand, is neat, likes to dance). Even though it turns out to be correct at the end, it's still stereotyping. I mean, gay or straight, a guy isn't any less of a man if he likes to dance.

[–] artguylarry (498) 6 years ago

I think the precise moment (or moments) that bothered me was when there was any mention of "gay" and they everyone looked at each other in such horror, as if it was something to be so horrified OF. Maybe I read the movie wrong, and I hope so. It was otherwise moderately entertaining.

[–] Otter (24464) 6 years ago

There are still lots and lots of places in the US where it's extremely disadvantageous to come out as gay, to put it politely, and where nobody comes out if they can help it. There are also a lot of people in the US who don't want out gays teaching schoolchildren, so yes, I can believe there are still places where a mild-mannered high school teacher would think that staying closeted and "fitting in" would be a good idea.

And yes, I can believe that a white, cute, law-abiding small midwestern town would be such a place. You do not want to find yourself on the outside, in a place like that.