In & Out

Howard Brackett teaches English literature in a small Indiana town where he grew up, and he is about to marry his fiancée Emily after a long engagement. His settled life is turned upside down when a former student, now a Hollywood star named Cameron Drake, wins an Academy Award and thanks his old teacher on television in front of a huge audience, describing him as gay. Howard insists the remark is a mistake, but the town reacts, his students keep their distance, his job is threatened, and Emily begins to doubt him. A television reporter arrives hoping to profit from the story, while Cameron eventually tries to help clean up the mess he caused.

Frank Oz directed the film from a screenplay by Paul Rudnick, with Scott Rudin producing. It followed several comedies Oz had made through the 1980s and 1990s, including Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Housesitter, and it came before Bowfinger and The Score. Kevin Kline plays Howard, Joan Cusack plays Emily, Tom Selleck plays the reporter Peter Malloy, Matt Dillon plays Cameron Drake, and Debbie Reynolds and Wilford Brimley appear as Howard's parents. The credited cast runs to 96 performers.

Made for about 35 million dollars, the comedy took in roughly 64 million worldwide. On IMDb it holds 6.4 out of 10 from around 46,000 votes, and on TMDB 6.5 out of 10 from 778 votes. A critics' rating of 7 out of 10 from 57 reviews places it somewhat above the audience scores.