Classic Movie Pick: “In and Out” Is A Timeless Comedy That Confronts the Divisive Issues of Today

For this week’s Classic Pic we head to fictional Greenleaf, Indiana for the shock of a lifetime.

Imagine you’re sitting at home with your devoted fiancé watching a former student giving an acceptance speech after having just won an Oscar. You watch with a gleam in your eye, warmth in your heart and beaming with pride until said student tells the entire world you’re gay. This week’s film is “In and Out”, the story of Howard Bracket, played by Kevin Kline, a small-town English teacher, about to walk down the aisle and exchange wedding vows in a week. Needless to say, the announcement shocks everyone in the town, the world, and most of all, Howard Bracket.

Rarely does an Oscar ceremony have such a ripple effect on a small town but following the broadcast, the Paparazzi descend on little Greenleaf as Howard tries to convince everyone in town that he is heterosexual, mostly himself. In one scene, he goes to confession and the priest encourages him to consummate his relationship with his fiancé, Emily played by Joan Cusack. The two have not slept together at this point in the film but Howard talks her into it to prove to himself he is hetero, doing his best but ultimately unable to go through with it.

The story moves along and sees Howard befriend a reporter who sticks around after the media leaves because he is interested in covering Howard and Emily’s wedding. Howard soon learns that the reporter, Peter Malloy, played hilariously by Tom Selleck, is openly gay. Malloy encourages Howard to accept who he is and shares his own experiences. One scene between the two ends with about a 10 second kiss, which Howard is not totally repulsed by. The final test of Howard’s “I am straight” indignation is to actually go through with the wedding, but you can imagine how that goes. 

The film addresses the fallout people struggling with their sexuality dealt with in the late 90s and sadly, today. Coming out and admitting who you are to yourself is one thing, but as Howard finds out not everyone is accepting. As great of a teacher as Howard is, he is disqualified for being Teacher of the Year. Cameron Drake, the student whose Oscar speech put the story in motion, is played by Matt Dillon who shows up to encourage the town to rally around Howard who, to some small minded citizens, has become a social outcast. Howard ends up, maybe not receiving his Teacher of the Year award, but does claim something so much more important.

“In and Out” was directed by Frank Oz, who has built one of the most unique and interesting resumes in all of show business over the course of his long career. Oz was the puppeteer and voice of Yoda in the “Star Wars” films. He worked on the show “Sesame Street” for over a decade where he voiced beloved characters Burt, Grover, and Cookie Monster. He has also voiced numerous characters in more recent movies like “Inside Out” and, in addition to “In and Out”, has directed films like “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”, “What about Bob?”, “Bowfinger”, and of course, the classic “The Muppets Take Manhattan.” 

This production has many fun film facts. The Oscar that Matt Dillon holds in his Academy Awards scene actually belonged to Kevin Kline, who won it for his supporting role in 1989’s “A Fish Called Wanda.” The idea for the film came from an actual Oscar moment in which Tom Hanks, after winning an Oscar at the 66th Academy Awards for Best Actor in “Philadelphia”, thanked a teacher of his who was gay. And possibly the most fascinating tidbit of all is, without a doubt, the commitment Tom Selleck showed to the role of Peter Malloy by shaving his mustache for the part – no doubt, making the kiss he shared with Kevin Kline that much smoother.  

So have a laugh and some good feels with “In and Out”, this week’s Classic Movie Pic. 

Editor’s note: For more movie and entertainment talk, join host Pete Schwaba weeknights from 6 to 8 p.m. for Nite Lite on the Civic Media radio network.