IN & OUT

With all the elements of boy meets girl, falls in love, boy loses girl, and falls out of love because he prefers a handsome and masculine news anchorman, played by Tom Selleck, we are jolted with a new twist to this old romantic tale in IN & OUT, a propagandistic movie inspired by Tom Hank’s Oscar acceptance speech in which he thanked his homosexual high school drama teacher.. The setting is indeed familiar, a small town teacher in friendly Indiana. The folks are all a glow as they prepare for the wedding of their beloved high school English teacher, Howard Brackett, played by Kevin Klein. Joan Cusack’s performance is delightful in her portrayal of amazing transparency and loving commitment in shedding those awful 75 pounds for her beloved Howard, her long awaited groom.

The wedding plans are developing without a flaw as Hoard’s mother, played by Debbie Reynolds, presses toward the mark with the greatest of determination. There is some tension on behalf of this little community as to whether Howard is actually heterosexual or not. He has never married, but promises his long time girl friend that in the event his former student Cameron, played by Matt Dillon, wins an Academy Award that he will marry her immediately. Well the day has arrived, Cameron is going to accept the Award, and with great relief, Howard will finally be wed. Mother is thrilled! The twist becomes more twisted, when Cameron at the award ceremony delivers his thanks to his many supporters and then slips in at the end, “and of course my gratitude goes to my former teacher and mentor Mr. Howard Brackett, and he’s gay.”

The town goes berserk. Howard’s mother goes bananas because she really does enjoy weddings, and of course his lovely bride is almost lost. For the next hour, Howard fights battles with his students, his boss, his bride, his parents, the entire town, and every force the media can bring his way. He is straight he contends. He is masculine he insists − though he doesn’t beat up people, and he doesn’t curse at them. He also enjoys poetry and Shakespeare, but he is not a homosexual. When we finally believe this guy after he struggles and pleads with his entire world, he is met by an aggressive news man who decides to open his life up by confiding that he too is a homosexual. Some how this guy has the inside story on Howard and believes he can remedy his terribly plight. He grabs him and gives him a long passionate kiss, which Howard struggles against half-heartedly, and then passionately proclaims, “There, you needed it.”

The last half hour consists of boy losing girl by choice, boy chases boy, and what will I tell my friends on the wedding day?

Though the issue of unconditional love is definitely explored in this film, it is hypocritical because it condemns those who stand opposed to homosexuality. God loves individuals without reserve, even homosexuals and even homosexual bashers, but this movie clearly forces the viewer to be subjected to immoralization, with a little laughter to help the bitter medicine go down.

Boasting a great trailer and providing a good many laughs, this movie seems ready to reap large audiences. Painting conservative characters in a most stereotypical way, the movie force feeds non-judgmental attitudes, while judging conservative Judeo-Christian attitudes towards homosexuality as old-fashioned and dumb. Though targeted for and against the heartland of America, the movie attracted a mostly homosexual audience at the screening in Atlanta. Most shocking was the audience’s proclivity to applaud in response to the on-screen activities, which include a homosexual kiss and sexually suggestive manners. Though winsome, this movie is an insult to all who hold sacred views of sexuality.