the birdcage be the hysterically entertaining americanized version of the french classic la cage aux folles . in this version robin williams play the gay owner of a florida nightclub who learn his straight son ( dan futterman ) be come home and be engage to be marry . williams learn from his son that his fiancée parent ( gene hackman and dianne wiest ) be straight laced and ultra conservative and will not be comfortable meet his gay father or his even more flamboyant lover ( nathan lane ) and suggest williams send lane out of town while hackman and wiest be in town . instead and lane put on his best drag and meet the parent a williams wife in one of the most hilarious dinner party scene ever film . this film be chock full of sparkle dialogue and sharp performance . i also find it rather refresh to see robin williams play straight man to lane and who along with hank azaria a their housekeeper and practically steal the film from everyone else in one of the most entertaining comedy of the 90 . and the sight of gene hackman in drag be something everyone must experience .