‘In & Out’ Truly A Delight

Finally, homosexuality is an accepted topic for Hollywood movies.

Well, maybe it isn’t quite fully accepted, but “In ‘n’ Out” is a huge step in that direction.

Homosexuality on film seems to have gotten past the dreadful, annoying level of too many art house movies pleading the same cause (Love! Valour! Compassion being a rare exception). “In ‘n’ Out” takes on the issue, laughing at itself frequently, making its statement even more effective.

The film opens in the small town of Greenleaf, Ind., where high school teacher Howard Brackett (Kevin Kline) is living his pleasant, small town life, and is about to get married to his girlfriend of three years, fellow teacher Emily Montgomery (Joan Cusack).

Then, Cameron Drake (Matt Dillon), a former student who wins an Oscar, drops a bomb in his acceptance speech. He thanks Brackett, and then announces that Brackett’s gay.

For a few seconds that feel like hours in the film, the camera pans from face to face in Greenleaf, sharing the same look: total mortification. Since Brackett is within days of getting married, he insists that it isn’t true, but things get more complicated when he is mobbed by television crews the next day.

The movie wrings out every drop of humor: Formerly unashamed students cover up when Brackett enters a locker room; another tells him that he is well dressed, and another says he is “kinda prissy.”

The obvious happy ending to “In & Out” is avoided, but it doesn’t go without a happy ending. Everything that the first 70 minutes of the film sets up for is tossed aside, and the movie gets better still.

Even more impressive: As far as I could tell, there was nothing that might be construed as offensive to gays. Humor about controversial issues doesn’t have to try very hard to cross the line, but “In & Out” stays firmly on the safe side, to the benefit of all viewers.

Kline is absolutely hilarious. He manages to provide a multifaceted character who is good for laughs. The supporting characters, especially Cusack, are equally funny, but they are much too one-dimensional to have the same effect.

While this summer brought us every imaginable shade of psycho-thriller, it was hopelessly short on quality comedy. If “Men in Black” didn’t quench your comedy thirst for the summer, “In & Out” ought to do the trick.

Grade: A