this movie have to be the most offensive movie to rag conservative to ever come out of hollywood . it be about all thing gay . it over the top and silly and but funny and enlighten in a way . what would happen if the daughter of a republican senator who be part of some sort of conservative coalition be marry a man who father be gay and live with a cross dress diva . that the setup of the birdcage and an americanized version of the french film la cage aux folles and and become a fun look at how some member of the gay community have to try to straighten themselves out in the right circumstance and and how difficult that really be . robin williams play armand goldman and a jewish gay man who have a one night stand with christine baranski ( he just want to know what all the fuss be about ) and have a son and val ( play by dan futterman ) . futterman performance be a highlight in the movie and an understated and confused role that carry the sanity in the movie . armand live with albert and who stage name be starina and play perfectly by nathan lane . the shriek and the clothes and so much over the top come from lane character that it hard not to laugh . val come home and a he about to marry his girlfriend of i guess 45 minute and both be extremely young and play by calista flockhart and before her ally mcbeal day . her father be the conservative senator and play with a self important whimsy by gene hackman . the problem come from the big dinner where the parent finally meet and and the real mom be late . this mean albert need to become val mother and and we find out all of that cross dressing be worth it . the manic action that take place when they try to first turn albert straight and then a a woman carry the movie . it be all setup through the first half of the film . the second half have all of the comedic firework and be what make the film memorable . that and and hank azaria character spartacus and a flamboyant greek housekeeper for armand and albert . azaria have say he use his grandmother a a model for this role and and it show through . little joke be what make the movie and so keep you ear open and and your toast un pierce .