Life is sweet for high-school English teacher and sports coach Howard Brackett (Kevin Kline); hes still living where he grew up, he has a good relationship with his father (Wilford Brimley) and mother (Debbie Reynolds), hes respected by his community, and hes about to marry Emily (Joan Cusack), his fiancee of three years. Fearing she was about to become an old maid, Emily has shed 75 pounds for the upcoming nuptials. But first, the entire town of Greenleaf, Indiana, settles in to watch the Academy Award telecast, because young stud star Cameron Drake (Matt Dillon), who attended Greenleaf high, has been nominated for an Oscar. Whats more, he wins, and in his acceptance speech, singles out Howard -- and announces his favorite teacher is gay. Everyone in town is thunderstruck, including Howard himself. The media descend on the town, particularly Peter Malloy (Tom Selleck), whose job is hanging by a thread. But now so is Howards; principal Tom Halliwell (Bob Newhart) is shaken by the news, and is toying with firing Howard. The beleaguered teacher tries to convince everyone (and himself) that hes as straight and macho as the next guy; he even tries to follow the rules on a motivational tape, Be a Man. But his fondness for Barbra Streisand, his theatrical mannerisms and the fact that he and Emily have yet to make love make everyones eyebrows stay permanently raised. Meanwhile, out in Hollywood, Cameron, whos really a decent guy, learns about the problems his impulsive comment has caused, and heads back to Greenleaf to see what he can do to help. Peters mother is fiercely determined to see at least one of her two sons wed -- Walter (Gregory Jbara), the other, is a doofus -- and as the wedding date draws nearer and nearer, poor Howards life flies even farther out of control. ~ Bill Warren, All Movie Guide