In & Out - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Nearly thirty years later, Frank Oz's In & Out remains a delightful, warm-hearted crowd-pleaser as it addresses the complexities of coming out later in life. Paul Rudnick's (Sister Act, Addams Family Values) script manages to tackle a potentially controversial subject with such lighthearted wit that it's practically impossible not to be won over. And Kevin Kline shines as Howard Brackett, a closeted English teacher whose perfectly planned life is thrown into chaos when he's unexpectedly outed by a former student (Matt Dillon) during a live awards show. At its heart lies a sweet yet innocuous examination of gay culture and the concept of inclusivity, made even more noteworthy considering the era it was released — a time when such topics were still somewhat taboo in mainstream Hollywood.

The comedy does a fantastic job of mixing humor with social concerns, albeit in a sanitized, relatively safe way with its handling of gay themes, relying heavily on playful stereotypes and silly scenarios rather than diving into deeper waters. But at the same time, under Oz's capable hands, this is also part of the film's appeal and charm. It isn't trying to be a hard-hitting commentary on LGBTQ+ issues. Instead, the filmmakers use their mainstream platform to normalize conversations about sexuality with laughs and heart. This is also in part thanks to Kline's portrayal of the lovable Howard, peppering his journey of self-discovery with many joyful, carefree moments. This makes the reactions of his small town, who take the news in a mix of shock and bizarre support, as thoroughly charming. Heck, even the famous kiss between Kline and Tom Selleck, once seen as groundbreaking, is now laughably cringy and tame today. 

Speaking of which, part of what makes this 90s favorite work is its top-notch ensemble cast, starting with Joan Cusack's hilarious yet touching portrayal of jilted fiancée Emily Montgomery — for which she earned an Oscar nomination. Tom Selleck's hunky entertainment reporter covering the story, Peter Malloy, infuses the plot with just enough romance and heart to elevate the already engaging story without completely offending the more sensitive types in the audience. Debbie Reynolds and Wilford Brimley play Howard's parents who slowly but believably come around to accepting their son as his true self while drawing a few heartfelt laughs of their own. All the while, Kline maintains the center of attention and is perfect as the conflicted Howard, delivering the right blend of comedy with warmth and genuine emotion. The scene where Howard attempts to "man up" by following a masculinity self-help tape remains comedy gold.

Arguably, In & Out never pushes the envelope far enough, making it easier for general audiences to digest but brimming with dated stereotypes, which frankly curtails the opportunity for deeper social commentary. As if the filmmakers wanted to spark meaningful conversations but didn't want to risk alienating viewers with heavy themes, the story teeters on the edge but is afraid to fully commit to discussions surrounding sexual identity and acceptance. All things considered, this mainstream Hollywood production has its heart in the right place as a whimsical romp through the trials of self-acceptance. While it may not push any boundaries, it still successfully invites some gentle jabs at societal norms with laughter. Its peculiar blend of heartwarming silliness and feel-good comedy helped pave the way for more nuanced LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream cinema, even if it was just baby steps at the time.

Vital Disc Stats: The Ultra HD Blu-ray
Kino Lorber brings Frank Oz's In & Out to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray as a two-disc combo pack. The triple-layered UHD100 disc and a Region A locked, BD50 disc are housed inside a black, eco-elite vortex case on opposing panels, and the package comes with a slipcover. At startup, the disc goes straight to a static menu screen of the cover art with the usual options along the bottom and music playing in the background.

After years locked in mediocre HD SDR misery that looked close to DVD quality, the charming 90s comedy finally comes out to the world on 4K Ultra HD thanks to a reported remaster of the original 35mm camera negatives. 

Although it may not be a huge night and difference, especially compared to the accompanying Blu-ray struck from the same remaster, the HEVC H.265 encode nonetheless offers a notable uptick in clarity and definition, even though the photography still falls on the softer side of things. Overall, it shows sharper, clearer details in the hair, clothing, the surrounding foliage and various items decorating the background. With improved contrast balance, whites are brighter and cleaner while tight, narrow specular highlights allow for better finer details within the hottest spots. Black levels are also richer and truer with stronger shadow delineation, providing the 1.85:1 image with an attractive cinematic appeal. The Dolby Vision HDR presentation bursts with a vibrant, lively palette, supplying the comedy with a warm, welcoming yellowish hue and richly saturated primaries. Occasionally, the native 4K transfer can look a tad over-saturated here and there, but in general, everything looks great with healthy, natural tones in the cast. (Dolby Vision HDR Video Rating: 78/100)

Being a straightforward comedy, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack is expectedly a front-heavy affair, delivering excellent intonation and precision in the well-prioritized dialogue from start to finish. Imaging feels broad and wide with great channel balance and appreciable movement across the three channels, exhibiting strong distinction and definition in the midrange. Marc Shaiman's score and song selections also benefit from the move to lossless audio, enjoying a great deal of warmth and fidelity as they lightly bleed into the surrounds. Likewise, a few atmospherics subtly and sparingly employ the side speakers, but when they do, they perceptively broaden and expand the soundfield with strong effectiveness. There isn't much low-end to speak of, but there is nonetheless plenty of bass to give the music and songs some depth and presence, making this a great lossless track that complements the film well. (Audio Rating: 82/100)

For this UHD edition, Kino Lorber provides a decent selection of bonuses for fans to enjoy.

• Audio Commentary features screenwriter Paul Rudnick chatting with film historian Lee Gambin
• Ins & Outs (HD, 19 min) is an interview with director Frank Oz
• Dancing with Performers (HD, 18 min) is an interview with composer Marc Shaiman
• Vintage Interview Clips (1080i/60, 18 min) with cast and crew
• Behind the Scenes Footage (1080i/60, 6 min)
• Trailers (HD)

A couple of years shy of its 30th anniversary, Frank Oz's In & Out remains a delightful, heartwarming crowd-pleaser starring Kevin Kline, Tom Selleck, Joan Cusack, Matt Dillon, Debbie Reynolds and Wilford Brimley. Although the 1997 feel-good comedy doesn't push any boundaries and largely plays it safe for general audiences, the film nonetheless successfully invites some gentle jabs at societal norms and helped pave the way for more nuanced LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream cinema. Coming out to the world on 4K Ultra HD with the support of Kino Lorber, the Dolby Vision HDR presentation delivers a notable upgrade with a strong DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack and a decent selection of bonuses. Overall, the UHD edition is Recommended. 

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