THREE TO TANGO
US, 1999, 98 minutes, Colour.
Matthew Perry, Neve Campbell, Dylan Mc Dermott, Oliver Platt, John C. Mc Ginley, Bob Baliban.
Directed by Damon Santo Stefano.
Three to Tango is a romantic comedy with a difference. It focuses on two architects who have designed a master building for the city. They are played by Matthew Perry, somewhat in the Friends vein, and Oliver Platt. Rival architects, John C. Mc Ginley and Bob Balaban, insinuate that they are a gay couple. They follow through with this, Perry eventually winning the Outstanding Gay Man award of the year.
Their boss, Dylan Mc Dermott, is in a relationship with artist Neve Campbell. He is jealous and asks the allegedly gay Perry to keep an eye on her. The obvious happens, they fall in love, there is an expose of the callousness of the boss, honesty on the part of Perry, and the winning of the award.
Nothing particularly startling, a reflection of attitudes towards gay men and women at the end of the 1990s, a comedy which highlights aspects of homophobia but asks for an acceptance of people, whatever their sexual identity.
1. An entertaining comedy – obvious ingredients? A different triangle?
2. The city settings, offices, apartments, socials? Lofts and apartments? The musical score and songs?
3. The title, the irony of it taking two to tango and this time the third member of the triangle?
4. The credibility of the plot, the characters, their stances, relationships? The issue of the competition for the building plans? The gay and lesbian associations? The award, the irony of Oscar coming out as heterosexual?
5. Oscar and Peter, their relationship, business partners, Oscar’s nervousness for the presentation, Peter supporting him, Oscar blurting things out to Charles? The competition and their snide remarks? The allegations of homosexuality? The consequences for Charles?
6. Charles, his marriage, brittle, deceiving his socialite wife? His relationship with Amy? The affair, his wanting somebody to supervise her? Unable to go to her art exhibition? Asking Oscar, thinking he was safe? His getting reports, his jealousy, the irony of Amy talking to his wife, the cover-up? The expose at the awards ceremony? His wife’s dominating him, awarding the job to Peter and Oscar? The sexual joke at the end? The portrait of an unscrupulous wealthy businessman?
7. Peter and Oscar, their work together? Peter and his control over Oscar? The group of friends, their meetings, discussions, watching ball games, their belief that Oscar was gay, the fights with them?
8. Oscar, in himself, his relationship with women, nervy? Meeting Amy, crushed by the artwork, going out with her, the tuna, being sick? The taxi ride? Going home? Continuing to meet her, her believing that he was gay? She and her girlfriends, confiding in him? His being one of the girls – and listening to the more intimate aspects of their conversations? His wanting to tell the truth? Amy knowing that he was a spy for Charles? The build-up to the award, Amy staying with Oscar thinking it was safe? His falling in love with her?
9. The award, the representatives of the association, the ceremony, his speech, his coming out? The shock for Amy? Meeting her afterwards? The bond between the two?
10. His telling off Charles, Peter and his severity towards Charles? Their still getting the job? A happy ever after ending?
11. Kevin Cartwright, his past relationship with Amy, Charles’ jealousy, the admiration of Oscar, his skills at football? His meeting with Oscar, his approach to him (after Oscar had the people propositioning him in the bus after his interview and the article in the paper – with the various responses, especially from his mother and father)? Kevin Cartwright and the finale with Peter?
