Howard Brackett is a high school teacher from Greenleaf, Indiana, with everything going for him. A nice job, an attractive fiancé named Emily and respect from everyone.
Everything changes in one night when a former high school student, Cameron Drake, now a famous actor, makes an acceptance speech after receiving an Academy Award, and 'outs' Howard as his inspiration for his role.
The media circus immediately begins as Howard desperately tries keep his life from falling apart by protesting that the whole thing with Cameron's speech is a simple misunderstanding.
While most of the townspeople want to believe Howard, Peter Malloy, a gay TV reporter in town to cover the story, suspects that the teacher is in denial.....
It's pure fluff from beginning to end, it's totally childish in that old school farcical sort of way, and it's depiction of a small American Town would make a diabetic want to double on their insulin, but the film is so harmless, and charming, that you cannot help but like it.
Kline as usual is on top form here, and as high as the concept is, Oz thankfully doesn't go for any smut, and homosexual innuendo that would riddle the film if it were made today.
Greenleaf is constantly sunny, everyone is happy, and knows everyone else, and it's the idyllic place to live, there is no hatred in Howard's world, and Oz ups the happiness right through until halfway into the end credits.
Many will balk at the film, but this is harmless stuff, ideal for all the family on a wet Sunday afternoon.
Everything changes in one night when a former high school student, Cameron Drake, now a famous actor, makes an acceptance speech after receiving an Academy Award, and 'outs' Howard as his inspiration for his role.
The media circus immediately begins as Howard desperately tries keep his life from falling apart by protesting that the whole thing with Cameron's speech is a simple misunderstanding.
While most of the townspeople want to believe Howard, Peter Malloy, a gay TV reporter in town to cover the story, suspects that the teacher is in denial.....
It's pure fluff from beginning to end, it's totally childish in that old school farcical sort of way, and it's depiction of a small American Town would make a diabetic want to double on their insulin, but the film is so harmless, and charming, that you cannot help but like it.
Kline as usual is on top form here, and as high as the concept is, Oz thankfully doesn't go for any smut, and homosexual innuendo that would riddle the film if it were made today.
Greenleaf is constantly sunny, everyone is happy, and knows everyone else, and it's the idyllic place to live, there is no hatred in Howard's world, and Oz ups the happiness right through until halfway into the end credits.
Many will balk at the film, but this is harmless stuff, ideal for all the family on a wet Sunday afternoon.