cinezonker-1

let's get serious here. The original "In-Laws" with Peter Falk and Alan Arkin would be difficult to top, even if you had a grade-A script and this bomb certainly doesn't have that. Instead of going for wit and inventiveness we have one more example of "throw money away on special effects and big gags" and hope the audience doesn't notice that this production has all the genius of a bad sit-com. Save your money and screen the original. You'll laugh your you-know-what off.

With an excellent score by Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) and a literate and amusing screenplay, this is one of the best "fish out of water" films you can find. Burt Lancaster's near-cameo role as an oil baron ranks up there with his work on "Rocket Gibraltar" or "Atlantic City." And Peter Riegert's work as the frustrated oil company executive sent by Burt to buy a remote Scottish village so Burt can build an oil refinery/depot spotlights how underappreciated Riegert is as an actor. Director Bill Forsyth nailed down a not-so-minor classic with this effort. In a small role, Jenny Seagrove shows why she is not only beautiful but extremely talented. The cinematography is incredible as well. Don't miss it.

Everyone associated with this worthless production owes an apology to to the author of the original short story as well as the great screenwriter, Robert Riskin. Where the original contained wit, wisdom, fine acting, believable situations, etc., etc., etc., this empty vessel of the film piles crudity upon crudity without a trace of humor. Don't waste a minute on this travesty.