La Cage Aux Folles

Directed by Edouard Molinaro. Written by Jean Poiret, Francis Veber, Edouard Molinaro, and Marcello Danon. Starring Ugo Tognazzi (Renato Baldi) and Michel Serrault (Albin Mougeotte).

Bottom line: If you've seen The Birdcage, you've already seen this movie.

3.5/4

La Cage Aux Folles is about a gay couple living in St. Tropez. The one, Albin (Serrault) is the star of a drag club called La Cage Aux Folles and, the other, Renato (Tognazzi), is the owner of the club. The movie begins on an ordinary, busy night at the club; Albin is throwing a hilarious hissy fit in the most flamboyant way possible, much to the disapproval of his partner, before going on stage. While Albin is on stage, Renato's son arrives and announces his engagement. His fiancee's parents are staunchly conservative; her father, for example, is the vice president of “The Party for Moral Order.” Unfortunately, the future in-laws are coming to St. Tropez so the son requests that Renato and Albin change their appearance to something more conservative.

Granted, it doesn't sound like that much of a story but the execution is splendid (and I'm not usually a comedy person). Albin's antics are almost over-the-top but it serves as a contrast between the more tempered Renato. A big factor in determining whether or not you'd like La Cage Aux Folles is if you like awkward humor. The dinner scene between the two sets of parents is a barrage of cringe-worthy situations.

I found it fascinating how closely this version matches it's American remake, The Birdcage, starring Nathan Lane and Robin Williams. I'd call it more of a translation than a remake, quite frankly; situations, scenes, lines, and even actions are replicated. There are understandable changes (like casting) which do have a surprising impact on the tone of the story, particularly the actor who plays the son.

In The Birdcage, Dan Futterman plays Renato's son. His narrow features and cool demeanor come across as, if anything, sinister. Whenever I saw him, I expected to hear something cold and self-absorbed which detracted from the humor of the movie. La Cage Aux Folles' Remi Laurent, however, comes across as innocent. He's like a “dreamy” version of Eric (Topher Grace) from The 70's Show. The lighting on Laurent is soft which gives him aura. His request still self-serving but his intentions feel different. He is so transfixed on marrying this young woman that he is blinded to the fact that his request is unfair. He doesn't want to scare his future in-laws aways. In The Birdcage without that lighting and without that softness, the son comes across as a jerk.

Overall, I found La Cage Aux Folles to be a really funny movie. I would definitely recommend it, especially if you haven't seen The Birdcage. However, if you have seen The Birdcage, I must inquire as to whether or not you liked it. If you didn't, steer clear of this one. If you did, then by all means, see La Cage Aux Folles. I thought La Cage Aux Folles' ending was funnier and you might find it interesting to see the similarities and [the few] differences.