It's Pat

It's Pat is a distinctive American comedy from 1994 directed by Adam Bernstein. The film is centered around the androgynous character 'Pat' played by Julia Sweeney, demonstrating her incredible comedic talent. The film also stars David Foley and Charles Rocket in crucial supporting roles. It's Pat was brought to the screen by Touchstone Pictures following the chart-topping success of its "Saturday Night Live" skit, which too featured 'Pat'.

The movie tries to explore the enigma, eccentricity and unusualness unchained by Pat's ambiguous character, which is deliberately kept unspecific, leaving audiences pondering whether Pat is a female or a male. This situational humour drives the narrative of It's Pat, creating a world where gender becomes the focal point of comedy and absurdity.

Julia Sweeney's Pat is an optimistically awkward character who mystifies everyone she encounters with her gender ambiguity. She has an overly enthusiastic, peculiar demeanor which is coupled with her unconventional looks and a strange, high-pitched voice which has been her signature from SNL sketches. As irrespective of their continuous efforts, people still can't determine Pat's gender, resulting in a comedy of errors and leaving the audience in fits of laughter. The movie does an apt job of retaining the spirit of the original sketch while developing it into a full-length feature film.

David Foley, known for his roles in NewsRadio and The Kids in the Hall, plays the character of Chris, another confusingly gender-neutral individual who is also Pat's new love interest. Their unique relationship dynamic adds another layer to the storyline, contributing to the overall comic suspense. Charles Rocket, on the other hand, is excellent in his role as Kyle Jacobsen, a neighbor who becomes increasingly and bordering on sanity obsessed with discovering Pat's true gender.

The ambiguity of Pat's specific gender becomes a recurring theme and an effectively utilized mechanism for providing continuous comedic fodder throughout the film. The movie doesn't miss opportunities to play with inherent social stereotypes associated with gender roles, often leading to comical misunderstanding and varied instances of rib-tickling humor. Other characters’ obsession with pinpointing Pat's gender exemplifies society's fixation with putting labels, lending a subtle yet insightful social commentary under its comedic garb.

Though primarily a comedy, the film doesn't shy away from exploring deeper themes about identity and acceptance in a society ardently obsessed with categorizing individuals based on their appearances. It provides a humorous stance on society's obsession with defining people by mere gender constructs and imparts inherent lessons about non-conformity, individuality, and self-acceptance.

However, the film isn't all about laughs; it features a surprisingly dramatic turn in the plot, where the situation takes a graver note amidst all the hilarity. This slight alteration in the storyline not only compromises the light-hearted humor of the movie but also offers a breather in terms of pacing and narrative progression.

As a director, Adam Bernstein does an outstanding job of turning a popular SNL character into an effective and exciting cinematic spectacle while still maintaining the original essence. The screenplay, written by Jim Emerson and Sweeney, contains adequate jokes and punch-lines that work because they're centered around the integral gender puzzle.

Meanwhile, the cinematography, by Jeff Jur, does a commendable job in keeping up with the tone of the movie by incorporating shots that complement the humor on screen. The music by Mark Mothersbaugh adds a light-hearted and bubbly charm to the film, enhancing the comic effect of the various scenes.

All in all, It's Pat is a delightful romp that provides heaps of laughs, while subtly nudging the audience to question societal norms about gender. The film's humor sometimes becomes too slapstick or overly absurd, but it's all within the spirit of this peculiar character and the tricky social subject it is highlighting. In the end, the movie manages to be a strange yet funny exploration of gender ambiguity, with noteworthy performances and a fresh approach that truly sets it apart.