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The "fuss" with Birdcage was more to do with industry politics than the quality of the film. Enlightened filmmakers have been trying for years to make a film which portrays gay characters as *humans*. The only way to sell this idea to an industry geared towards making heterocentric, homophobic films was to sell it as a remake of another successful film. Even then, it took twenty years.
From a sociopolitical point of view, there was little chance of the film being good in its own right, as it was so hampered by what American audiences were willing to swallow (PTP). Even in its watered down, "We can't say too much" state, it was picketed.
It's impossible to separate Birdcage from its politics - to enlightened people, it was a plodding remake; to homophobes, a perverted celebration of evil; and to everyone in between, it was probably an uncomfortable reminder that they are not as enlightened as they thought they were.
In regard to the general practice of remaking French films - it's our own fault (English-speaking audiences that is) for not coping with subtitles. Ask the average punter if they even know where France is.
Faelan
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