Oscar Novak (Perry), an architect who is desperate to receive a ninety million dollar commission from a wealthy Chicago businessman, Charles Newman (McDermott), agrees to help him out with a personal problem. Newman, mistakenly convinced that Oscar is gay, asks him to spy on his mistress, Amy (Campbell), to make sure that she doesn't fool around with her ex-boyfriend Kevin (Cozart), a confirmed stud. When Oscar meets Amy, the two unintentionally embark on a night of one bumbling misadventure after the other. Not surprisingly, he falls for her, but hides the truth for fear of being exposed. When he's selected as man of the year by a gay organization, the situation reaches its boiling point.
2.
Sooner or later the truth must be told. Oscar Novak will finally come out of the closet and declare before friends, parents, the cosmos and the 11 o clock news that he is, well, straight. Or will he?
Matthew Perry, Neve Campbell and Dylan McDermott are the entango'd threesome of this hip, out and out (and outed!) gender bender also starring Oliver Platt. A business tycoon (McDermott) who wrongly thinks Oscar (Perry) is gay asks him to spy on his girlfriend (Campbell). Oscar, unwilling to hurt his chances of winning a lucrative architectural contract from the mogul, agrees…and falls madly in love. Do ask, do tell. For hot stars and steadily ramped up comedy complications, it takes Three To Tango.
3.
A charming but problematic romantic comedy, Three to Tango wobbles between sublime farce and ridiculous contrivance in its detailing of the romantic triangle between an architect (Matthew Perry), a rich businessman (Dylan McDermott), and the businessman's mistress (Neve Campbell). What's the catch? Well, after an absurd misunderstanding, McDermott believes Perry to be gay when in actuality it's Perry's architectural partner (Oliver Platt) who is. Thinking Perry is "safe" material, the jealous McDermott enlists him to watch over Campbell so she doesn't flirt with any other guys, the tacit understanding being that if Perry keeps her out of anyone's arms, a lucrative job will be his. Of course, Perry is instantly smitten, and Campbell takes to him immediately. Both are flummoxed when McDermott reveals Perry's orientation, in one of the film's many subtly rich and funny scenes; Campbell is confused but accommodating, and Perry freaks out inside when he understands that if he wants to keep his job and stay out of debt he has to pretend to have no romantic feelings whatsoever for the woman he loves--and be her constant companion and closest friend. When it sticks to farce-screwball mixed with drawing-room comedy, Three to Tango closely resembles Tootsie, in which another man pretended to be something he wasn't in order to keep his job and his proximity to the woman he loves. However, it's the "gay issue"--and that's exactly how it's dealt with, quotation marks and all--that sadly sabotages the film. Where in Tootsie Dustin Hoffman's cross-dressing was taken in stride, the issue of Perry's supposed homosexuality is treated as an oppressive burden; it's not only borderline offensive, it badly bungles the film's delicate dynamics, weighing down a feather-light romance with excess baggage. It's too bad, because Perry and Campbell are better than you would ever have any reason to believe; their courtship is genuinely funny and touching, and after a while you will find emotional investment in these two ending up together. Despite the film's problems, they manage to pull it over the finish line. --Mark Englehart, Amazon.com
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