6.0/10
18,144
122 user 73 critic

Three to Tango (1999)

PG-13 | | Comedy, Romance | 22 October 1999 (USA)
A rich businessman's assumption that his new colleague is gay leads him to ask the man to keep an eye on his mistress. However, the man is not gay, and begins to fall for the woman himself.

Director:

Damon Santostefano

Writers:

Rodney Patrick Vaccaro (story) (as Rodney Vaccaro), Rodney Patrick Vaccaro (screenplay) (as Rodney Vaccaro) | 1 more credit »

Photos

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matthew Perry ... Oscar Novak
Neve Campbell ... Amy Post
Dylan McDermott ... Charles Newman
Oliver Platt ... Peter Steinberg
Cylk Cozart Cylk Cozart ... Kevin Cartwright
John C. McGinley ... Strauss
Bob Balaban ... Decker
Deborah Rush ... Lenore
Kelly Rowan ... Olivia Newman
Rick Gomez ... Rick
Patrick Van Horn ... Zack
David Ramsey ... Bill
Kent Staines ... Gallery Owner
Ho Chow ... Cabbie
Michael Proudfoot Michael Proudfoot ... Diner Waiter
Learn more

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Storyline

A rich businessman, Dylan McDermott, mistakenly believes that Matthew Perry, who is bidding on a $90 million restoration contract, is gay and asks him to keep tabs on his mistress, Neve Campbell. Perry, who is not gay, falls for Neve in a big way but she thinks he's gay. Written by Tony Zackin <tzackin@hotmail.com>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

All's fair in the war of love.

Genres:

Comedy | Romance

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sex-related situations and language | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

It was scheduled to April 9, 1999 release but was moved to October 22, 1999. See more »

Goofs

In the scene at Amy's apartment, Oscar serves champagne in two glasses: one green and one crystaline. When Amy gets out of the shower, Oscar hands her the green glass. But in the next shot, when Amy and Oscar make a toast and lift their glasses, the glasses have been switched: Oscar holds the green glass and Amy the crystaline one. See more »

Quotes

Amy: So I take it you have kissed a woman before?
Oscar Novak: Not the right one.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Ratz: Three to Tango (2003) See more »

Soundtracks

Jumpin' East Of Java
Written by Brian Setzer
Produced by Peter Collins
Performed by The Brian Setzer Orchestra
Courtesy of Interscope Records
See more »

User Reviews

 
A date movie that doesn't insult your intelligence
11 October 1999 | by Shiva-11See all my reviews

Typical Hollywood formula: guy meets girl, guy wants girl, but girl thinks guy is gay and he must maintain the charade or lose a job. In this case the guy in question is Oscar Novak (Matt Perry), who, with his business partner (Oliver Platt) is competing for a $90 million renovation project. To complicate matters, Charles, the guy in charge of assigning the project (Dylan McDermott), asks Oscar to shadow his mistress (Neve Campbell) and keep her away from any guys. Oscar doesn't realize why he's been chosen (Charles thinks he's gay) until it's too late. Of course it's only a matter of time before Oscar and Amy fall in love and chaos ensues.

Perry essentially does a rehash of his Chandler persona from "Friends", which makes Oscar a charming, neurotic klutz who makes little headway with women. Campbell's Amy is energetic as the independent life loving bohemian and her omnipresent grin and boundless optimism light up the screen (luckily there's no screaming). Platt, although uncharacteristically subdued, is hilarious as always and has some of the best lines in the film. Unfortunately, McDermott's portrayal of the self-absorbed- pretty-boy-Donald-Trump-wannabe is suprisingly lifeless and the only weak link in the film.

Tango is not groundbreaking cinema -the straight-guy-pretending-to-be-gay (and vices versa) routine has surely been done in every medium known to man. Unlike many of its predecessor's, however, it manages to be amusing without being offensive: Oscar doesn't try to "act" gay - he does not become a mincing, effeminate, fop with a lisp - rather he conducts himself as he always has. Although humor is the method of delivery, the movie manages to honestly convey the difficulty people must face when, for whatever reason, they are forced to live a lie. Oscar's "coming out" speech emphasizes this point, and manages to be poignant and educational without being melodramatic.

If you're looking for an entertaining date movie that doesn't require a box of Kleenex this movie amply fits the bill.


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Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros.

Country:

Australia | USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 October 1999 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

L'amour à trois temps See more »

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Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,406,135, 24 October 1999

Gross USA:

$10,570,375

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,570,375
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »

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