12 Best Movies Starring The Simpsons Actors

12. The Birdcage

It's hard to say if this film was ahead of its time or has dated poorly, but there's no doubt that this 1996 smash hit comedy's addressing of gay characters was well intentioned. The choice of casting straight actors Robin Williams and Hank Azaria as gay characters would most likely not happen today, especially not as openly 'flamboyant' characters as they play here.

The plot revolves around a gay couple Armand and Albert, played in appropriately in an appropriately over exaggerated fashion by Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. When Armand's son, a result of a drunken one night stand, reveals to his father that he has fallen in love with a girl called Barbara, joy soon turns to panic when a Dinner date is organised with Barbara's ultra conservative Republican father.

The film makes fun of the idea of Armand and Albert pretending to be straight to please Barbara's parents, with the plans threatening to come unstuck due to the flamboyant nature of Albert and their live-in Guatemalan housekeeper played by Azaria.

The Simpsons voice actor steals the show with every scene he is in, his over the top characterisation played for laughs, but also with a lot of heart. Robin Williams and Nathan Lane unsurprisingly make every post a winner, turning what could have been an Adam Sandleresque effort in poor taste into a genuinely enjoyable time.