I remember seeing this in the theater when it first came out and having a great time with it in the company of my friends. I hadn’t seen it since until I decided to revisit it. And damn, if it not only still entertains, but that the politics are sadly still prevalent.

Pairing Robin Williams and Nathan Lane in this American update of Le Cages aux Folles. Williams is Armand, a gay nightclub owner, and Lane is Albert, his romantic partner and drag-queen headliner. And their house-boy? Hank Azaria turning in a hilarious performance as Agador.

Trouble comes through the door in the form of Armand’s son, Val (Dan Futterman). He’s come home to South Beach to announcement his impending nuptials to Barbara (Calista Flockhart). Armand thinks he’s too young to get married, but will support his son.

And that’s good, because Barbara’s parents are not only strict, strict conservatives, her father, is Republican Senator Keeley (Gene Hackman). Dianne Wiest plays her mother, Louise. Barbara fabricates a number of lies and family history for Val and Armand, and it seems Armand and Albert are going to have to play it straight when it comes to meeting their new in-laws.

Val even reaches out to his birth mother, Katharine (Christine Baranski) to help out, and it’s all going to come apart in hilarious fashion when the Keeley’s arrive in Florida for dinner.

Williams and Lane are brilliant together and there is a real sense of a relationship here, and it’s wonderful to see them both at the top of their game. Hackman plays a great straight man, but even he gets in on the act by the end of the film.

It all ends up being very joyous and so much fun. The entire cast is solid, and Hank Azaria practically steals every scene he is in, which is saying something when he’s going up against the likes of Lane, Williams, Hackman and Wiest.

It’s a vibrant, feel-good film, and it’s so delightful to watch each of these actors having a great time with the characters and the narrative. And honestly, as it’s Pride, it seemed like June would be the perfect time to rewatch this one.

It also reminds me of how much I miss Robin Williams.

This was a great movie, I laughed, I enjoyed all the performances, and I couldn’t help but get swept up in the joy of the storytelling. It’s just so much fun. Hopefully, it won’t be almost thirty years until I watch it again.