“The In-Laws” (Warner Brothers)
Back in 1979 there was a mildly amusing comedy entitled “The In-Laws.” It starred Alan Arkin and Peter Faulk as a mismatched pair of men who are forced into a “friendship” due to the upcoming marriage of their children. Now that comedy has been remade into a modern version starring Michael Douglas and Albert Brooks. The question is why
What was amusing in the first is now silly in the second. And face it, Michael Douglas is no Alan Arkin when it comes to comedy. He is no Pee Wee Reese when it comes to comedy. In the movie he plays Steve Tobias, a CIA agent who is in the middle of a dangerous mission. His assistant Angela is played by the miscast Robin Tunney.
When the European part of his mission is completed Steve flies back to the States to take part in the pre-nuptial festivities of his son Marc (Ryan Reynolds) and his fiance’ Melissa (Lindsay Sloane). Melissa’s parents, Jerry and Katherine (Albert Brooks and Maria Ricossa), are not aware of Steve’s true occupation.
Jerry is a successful podiatrist, and a whiny one. He is also a hypochondriac who wants his daughter to be happy but he wants the wedding done his way. Steve and Marc have a tenuous relationship at best. Things get worse when Steve involves an unwilling Jerry in some of his CIA escapades.
Candice Bergen arrives late in the film as Steve’s ex-wife and Marc’s mother. She is still playing the same role she played on “Murphy Brown,” and has done in “Sweet Home Alabama” and “View From the Top.” Surely she has more range than this.
Douglas is a pretty good dramatic actor, but comedy is not his thing. He seems uncomfortable with all of the physical comedy that is required, and he sure can’t handle the delivery of a comedic line. Brooks can be funny in the right role in the right film. Remember him in “Broadcast News” But in this movie he is twitchy and itchy and annoying.
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and violence.
They should have outlawed this remake of “The In-Laws” before it ever saw the light of day. When a movie is this stale, and then you throw in “KC and the Sunshine Band” as the guest stars, well you know you are in big trouble.
The movie looks good, it just doesn’t act good. You have heard the expression too much of a good thing, well this is too much of a mediocre thing.
I scored “The In-Laws” a non relative 4 out of 10.
