In & Out Review

Messages: The movie has a very strong "be true to yourself" message, no matter how difficult that may be and how many people it upsets. It also strongly promotes unconditional acceptance.

Role models: Howard spends most of the movie confused and struggling, but he considers others' feelings while working things out and never takes out his frustration on friends and family members. When others finally come around, it's mainly because of Howard's overall honesty and compassion than anything specific that he does or says. There's some stereotyping in certain scenes (such as when Howard tries to act extra "manly" or when his fiancee talks about him loving Barbra Streisand), but most of it is played for humor.

Violence: Not much of an issue, but there's a mild brawl during a bachelor party.

Sex: Plenty of mild, humorous sexual innuendo, if very little actual nudity or sex. As the main character wrestles with his sexuality, every other character relates to him in a sexual way. A male TV reporter kisses him passionately on the mouth; a priest recommends that he have sex with his fiancée (he tries, but it stops before it really gets started). At a bachelor party, viewers see a sex doll, and the main character asks to watch some porn. Teens have a discussion about "in holes and out holes."

Language: One very notable use of the word "f--k," plus terms like "big homo," "queer," "Mary," and "sissy man," all used in an anti-gay context. There's also use of "testicles," "damn," "crap," "dick," "hell," "oh my God," and "goddamn."

Consumerism: Not an issue

Drinking, drugs and smoking: The main character gets a champagne bath in the school locker room and announces that he wants to get drunk at his bachelor party (characters also smoke cigars at the party). His fiancée and the TV reporter are seen in a bar drinking heavily to drown their troubles. A character mentions "heroin" in reference to something that's addicting.