La Cage aux Folles II Reviews

Spurred by the huge success of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, the producers rushed this sequel into the works and came up short in every way. Whereas the first film had lots of heart, this is just another spy picture with the added twist that the two heroes are heroines with baritone voices. Albin (Michel Serrault) thinks that Renato (Ugo Tognazzi) no longer finds him attractive, so he seeks to make him jealous, dresses up in drag, and is picked up in a cafe by a spy who is escaping enemy agents. The spy uses Albin as his getaway cover, but in no time Albin has the precious microfilm in his possession. Benny Luke reprises his role as the maid, as does Michel Galabru as Albin and Renato's son's father-in-law (see LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, above). Whatever comedy is in the picture is provided by Serrault as he sings, tries to be macho (as he did in the first film), faces down the villains, etc. Tognazzi, on the other hand, doesn't have much to do, and the picture just sort of lies there. The producers had planned to make a few more CAGE sequels, but this was such a dud that only one more shot was fired in 1985, thankfully. Italian dubbed into English.