The In-Laws

'The In-Laws' has a mediocre script but the actors successfully elevate the material. Albert Brooks in particular is very good as a neurotic podiatrist. Michael Douglas gives an energetic performance and the two work work well off each other. There are some consistent laughs throughout the film. David Suchet is fine as (MINOR SPOILERS) the gay international arms smuggler who falls in love with Brooks. The script is a gentle spoof of spy films and works well as long as you ignore the various plot holes. Douglas's family is shortchanged by the script, his relation with his estranged wife specially feels incomplete. Still watchable.

Overall 7/10

What do you get when you put a neurotic Jewish foot doctor from New York together with a CIA agent on a case to bust an arms-smuggling ring? And then have their kids get married? You get Albert Brooks and Michael Douglas as `The In-Laws', a remake of a film by the same name from 1979. Unfortunately, the marriage of these two actors doesn't seem as compatible.

Both movies follow essentially the same plot line: the daughter of a conservative and traditional family man from New York is about to marry the son of a CIA agent who happens to be in the midst of cracking a huge international case wide open. When things go inadvertently awry, the fun begins as the doctor gets caught up in the scheme and almost blows the whole thing, and gets himself and his soon-to-be in-law killed at the same time.

What made the original movie work is precisely what failed about the current version: the movie is not supposed to be about the `sting', it's supposed to be about the relationship between the neurotic in-laws. In the case of the doctor, Albert Brooks is perfectly cast as the doctor/father, blundering and fearful exactly as you expect him to be, as he faces everything from near death to being in a hot-tub with a dangerous (and gay) arms dealer. He eventually learns to ease his anxiety and deal with his situation, just like his predecessor, Alan Arkin, did in the original film.

The problem with the film has more to do with Michael Douglas' role. Unlike his predecessor, Peter Falk, Douglas is far too polished. The role of Steve Tobias is supposed to be that of a quirky, unassuming and somewhat innocent but lovable guy, much the character Falk made famous in his series, `Columbo.' With Tobias, you never really know whether his stories are true, or if he can be trusted, or even if he knows what he's doing. This would drive anyone nuts if they were in a tight situation with this guy, and Falk was made for this role. Douglas, however, is quite the contrary. He's not nuts enough – he can't be; that's just not him. He's too good looking. In the original film, you never really knew if Tobias was a CIA agent till quite close to the end of the film, whereas the new film makes only one half-hearted attempt at hiding the fact, but it doesn't really fool anyone. Because of how poorly Douglas was cast, and how too many quirky aspects of the film were replaced by high-tech effects and more modern and threatening villains, there is no chemistry between anyone to carry the movie.

On the positive side, `The In-Laws' certainly had its share of comedic lines, and I found myself laughing far more often than the movie deserved to be laughed at. But that's me. I love Albert Brooks, and I make no apologies or excuses for being easily amused. That said, I left the film disappointed. In fact, so much so, that I rented the original film again, just to enjoy it one more time. Not that I want to turn this into a video review, but it should be noted that the original 1979 version is well-worth seeing, especially if you were a Columbo fan.

A remake of the original 1979 cult classic, 'The In-Laws' is A Decent Entertainer, that doesn't bore. Sure, it's not all-out funny & gripping, but it arrests your attention & provides fair entertainment nevertheless.

'The In-Laws' Synopsis: Right before his daughter's wedding, a mild-mannered foot doctor discovers that his new in-laws are international smugglers.

'The In-Laws' has its moments for sure. In the first-hour, especially, there are some really nice sequences. The second-hour, does lose pace, but it doesn't drag, thankfully. The Screenplay is fast-paced, but it could've been tighter in the second-hour. Andrew Fleming's Direction is fair. Cinematography & Editing are functional.

Performance-Wise: Michael Douglas & Albert Brooks deliver superbly. Both of the veteran actors, also share a striking on-screen chemistry from start to end. Ryan Reynolds is passable. Lindsay Sloane is good. Robin Tunney does fairly well. Maria Ricossa & Candice Bergen support well.

On the whole, 'The In-Laws' is a decent watch.

Steve Tobias (Michael Douglas) is an undercover and efficient CIA agent, supported by the lower-ranked CIA agent Angela Harris (Robin Tunney), and assigned in a dangerous and secret international mission. He is trying to retrieve a nuclear submarine and arrest some international drug dealers and smugglers. Steve is also a reckless and absent father. His son Mark (Ryan Reynolds) is a lawyer, who is going to get married with Melissa Peyser (Lindsay Sloane), the daughter of the housewife Katherine Peyser (Maria Ricossa) and Jerry Peyser (Albert Brooks), a conservative podiatrist of Chicago. Jerry is the opposite of Steve, being afraid of airplanes and living a routinely life. When the two families meet for a dinner in a Vietnamese restaurant to celebrate the forthcoming wedding, Jerry is mistakenly identified as a secret agent, turning his life upside-down. I found this movie extremely funny. The combination of Michael Douglas and Albert Brooks was amazingly (and even surprisingly) good. The performance of David Suchet, as the gay French drug dealer and criminal Jean-Pierre Thibodoux, is also excellent and very funny. KC and the Sunshine Band playing an old hit is also great and completes a highly recommended comedy. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): 'Até Que os Parentes Nos Separem' ('Until the Relatives Get Us Apart')

Steven Tobias (Two Time Oscar-Winner:Michael Douglas) is a CIA Operative, who's pretends to be an international armed dealers to the European Bad Guys. But he has a tough week, when his only son (Ryan Reynolds) is getting married in a couple of days to his sweet girlfriend (Lindsay Sloane). But he hasn't meet his son's girlfriend or her father Jerry Peyser (Albert Brooks) and his wife Katherine (Maria Ricossa). Now Steven has to make up for lost time for his son and his new family in-laws. But the problem is that Steven is still working undercover, when he takes them to a Chinese Restaurant. When Jerry goes to the bathroom, he overhears Steven talking to a informer (Tamara Gorski) and seeing Steven fighting with a guy, who has a gun. Now Jerry finds himself in hot water, when Steven is forced to protect Jerry from the bad guys and especially the FBI. Which the FBI Agents (Lead by A. Russelll Andrews) thinks Tobias is a rogue agent. Now Jerry has to play along with Steven. Steven wants Jerry to pretend to be an assassin as "The Fat Cobra" to impress a french terrorist (David Suchet). But this french bad-guy has a secret about his sexuality and he tries to put the moves on Jerry! Now Steven and Jerry are forced to get along as the wedding is coming soon. Which they have to accept each other differences for their kids and being future in-laws as well.

Directed by Andrew Fleming (The Craft, Dick, Nancy Drew) made an amusing comedy that has plenty of laughs and an heart as well. This is a remake of the well-remember 1979 film, a movie that i haven't seen yet. Douglas and Brooks are excellent in this movie, which sadly it was an Box Office disappointment. When it was release in the spring of 2003. Which it's too bad, because this movie is certainly more enjoyable than the average Hollywood comedy. The cast seems to be having a great time including Robin Tunney and Candice Bergen, who have their own funny moments as well. But it's Suchet is the biggest scene stealer in the movie, along with Douglas and Brooks. Suchet is the funniest character in the picture in his memorable supporting role. The soundtrack is good as well. If you are a fan of Fleming's work or especially that cast, don't miss it. Watch for some amusing cameos as well. Screenplay by Nat Mauldin (Downtown, Dr. Dolittle, Open Season) and Ed Solomon (Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, Men in Black, Super Mario Bros). Based on a screenplay by Andrew Bergman (Blazing Saddles, Fletch, Striptease). (****/*****).