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Michael Douglas, Albert Brooks, Robin Tunney, Ryan Reynolds, Candice Bergen ... see more see more... , David Suchet , Lindsay Sloane , Maria Ricossa , Russell Andrews , KC and the Sunshine Band , Matt Birman , Ric Waugh , Kenner Ames , Eric Fink , Tamara Gorski , Emmy Laybourne , Boyd Banks , Chang Tseng , Miranda Black , Jeanie Calleja , Novie Edwards , Jack Duffy , Sergio Di Zio , Billy Khoury , Drew Lee , Perry Perlmutar , Cara Pifko , Tamara Levitt , Paul Robbins , David Christo , Aaron Abrams , Susan Aceron , Aaron Alexander , Mike Beaver , Michael Bodnar , Peter Brewer , Marcel Brouillet , Michel Brouillet , Jason Frost , Ralph Hunter , Matthew Lantz , Stephen Lashley , Charlotte McKinnon , Jeremy Mosier , Adjety Osekre , Vladimir Radian , Stefano Rocchetti , Gregory Vitale , Luke Vitale , Maria Elide De Crescenzo

Lots of people have misgiving about their in-laws, but in this offbeat comedy, a man discovers that his new son-in-law's father is significantly stranger than he's able to deal with. Jerry Peyser (Alb... read more read more...ert Brooks) is a well-meaning but slightly anal-retentive podiatrist who doesn't much care for surprises in his life. When his daughter Melissa (Lindsay Sloane) announces she's going to marry her boyfriend, Mark Tobias (Ryan Reynolds), Jerry figures that helping his wife plan the wedding and getting through the ceremony is as much excitement as he needs or wants. However, when Jerry and his wife, Katherine (Maria Ricossa), meet Mark's father for the first time, Steve Tobias (Michael Douglas) ends up taking Jerry on the ride of his life. Both Mark and Steve's ex-wife, Judy (Candice Bergen), seem to have a decidedly ambivalent attitude about Steve, and Jerry finds out why -- Steve is actually an undercover agent for the CIA. In the guise of doing Steve a favor, Jerry gets dragged into a strange and dangerous episode involving international arms dealers, French super-villains, heavily armed men's room attendants, and a stolen private jet belonging to Barbra Streisand, as well as several less-than-pleasant encounters with Angela (Robin Tunney), Steve's colleague in espionage who doesn't trust Jerry. The In-Laws was adapted from the memorable 1979 comedy of the same name, in which Alan Arkin and Peter Falk played the mismatched fathers. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

42% liked it

15,284 ratings

Critics

35% liked it

127 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Andrew Fleming

Release Date: May 23, 2003

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DVD Release Date: October 7, 2003

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Stats: 486 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (486)

  • CreedsDelight
    February 4, 2011
    CreedsDelight
    Saw this a very long time ago. I remember I loved it, primarily because of Michael Doublas' hilarious performance.

    Grade: C+
  • 3niR
    January 31, 2011
    3niR
    Oh man! I watched this because of Ryan Reynolds. But he was sorta like a special guest in it. It wasn't funny though. Don't waste your time on it.
  • ScoopOnline
    December 12, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    This Movie caused me a Headache.
  • 76Majikat
    March 1, 2009
    76Majikat
    Albert Brooks is by far the funniest thing about this film, it?s an easy watching film, but very much a no brainer.
  • binky013
    March 11, 2008
    binky013
    I must make sure to add the original to my Netflix queue -- now closiing in on 400 movies! I would love to see what Alan Arkin and Peter Falk made of this idea. I have to admit that I was very skeptical of the pairing of Albert Brooks and Michael Douglas -- two of my other favo... read morerites. No worry, shrimp curry, they did very well playing off of each other.

    If this plot seems a little bit far-fetched to you, rest assured that I felt the same way. It is unbelievable, but it was also easy to let a willing suspension of disbelief kick it. This one is, however, worth a viewing. Douglas and Brooks make some very real music together.

    I feel for the other actors here, especially David Suchet and Candice Bergen. There is very little room to shine in this rather claustrophobic(?) -- narrowly focused(?) -- script for anyone besides Brooks and Douglas. Everything else is window dressing, really.

    I guess I'd call this a road/buddy flick in the end. It's truly very funny at times, but with a lot of so-so stretches as well. Still, I must reaffirm, flixster friends, that this is worth at least one watch, especially if you've ever believed in Brooks and Douglas. If I run across it again, I will happily give it another go, I think.
  • deano
    October 22, 2006
    deano
    This remake film is definitely funny than the original one.
  • husky10000years
    June 14, 2009
    husky10000years
    This movie has a lot of good laughs in it and some fine comic performances. In his TCM tribute to his father Michael Douglas says that when he was starting out in the picture business he avoided taking roles as action heroes because he did not want comparison with his fath... read moreer. At this point though he's definitely not worried about that. The part that Michael Douglas plays, the CIA agent whose life prevents him from having any kind of home life that was done by Peter Falk in the original, I could easily see being done by Kirk Douglas in the 1940s or 1950s. The In-Laws has some very nice moments and the stars work well together. But the best performances are from David Suchet as the international arms trafficker who's gay and who Michael Douglas convinces that Albert Brooks is a regular Dirk Diggler. And the other great performance is from Candice Bergen who is Michael Douglas' estranged wife and Ryan Reynolds mother. As she says she's the only one who really has her husband's number, but she's still crazy about him in certain ways. This version of The In-Laws is an amusing comedy, a worthy next century successor to the original.
  • xxdebxx
    May 26, 2010
    xxdebxx
    THE IN-LAWS ** Michael Douglas, Albert Brooks, Ryan Reynolds, Lindsay Sloane, Maria Ricossa, Candice Bergen, Robin Tunney, David Suchet.
    CIA operative Michael Douglas and an obsessive and phobic Chicago podiatrist Albert Brooks meet when their children are about to be married. B... read morerooks knows immediately that there is something not quite right with Douglas and Douglas tries to downplay his life, but soon they both find themselves involved in international smuggling and very dangerous situations with shady super-criminal figures. I like Michael Douglas and Albert Brooks; they make an appealing team and were great in this film with Brooks banging out hilarious one-liners left and right ("I think my food is still eating" and "I'm sorry I called you the worst father in the world. I'm sure there's at least two or three guys who are worse.") The soundtrack is filled with cool songs like "Live and Let Die," "Get Down Tonight," "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" etc.

    David Suchet plays Tibideaux, the sexually-confused French smuggler, who adds just the right touch of humor and malice and manages to steal every scene he is a part of. Even Candace Bergen has a funny little supporting role. This is a fast paced, funny movie so if you're in the mood to laugh, laugh and laugh some more-- GO RENT IT NOW!!!
  • RemiLogan
    May 2, 2010
    RemiLogan
    I only wanted to watch this movie because Ryan Reynolds was in it, but he ended up just being a bonus. The synopsis reads: "Right before his daughter's wedding, a mild-mannered foot doctor discovers that his new in-laws are international smugglers." Albert Brooks is hilarious as ... read moresaid podiatrist. He was just so awkward and neurotic and a control freak and it was a great combination with Michael Douglas' too-cool, funny smuggler. Even though Ryan Reynolds only had a small part in the film, he managed to make the tiniest moments hilarious. Candice Bergen too, who I loved in Boston Legal, had small parts, but made the most of them. I was thoroughly entertained.
  • alanjayh
    July 1, 2008
    alanjayh
    An adequate remake...Douglas shines but Brooks is outplayed by the original actor, Alan Arkin in the dentist role...mildy entertaining shtick

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Critic Reviews

Rex Reed
June 11, 2003
Rex Reed, New York Observer

Humdrum direction fails to elevate an already bankrupt idea from its relentless doldrums.

Andrew Sarris
June 11, 2003
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

Amazingly, the two versions have hit the casting bull's-eye twice in 24 years to provide superior entertainment. Full Review

Richard Roeper
May 27, 2003
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

One of the problems with The In-Laws is that it spends as much time with the uninteresting and unfunny wedding story as it does with the spy stuff. Full Review

Charles Taylor
May 24, 2003
Charles Taylor, Salon.com

This In-Laws isn't a disaster, it's just not very good. Full Review

Michael O'Sullivan
May 23, 2003
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

Funny, if a bit broad.

Ann Hornaday
May 23, 2003
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Its laughs are sweet-natured, and Heaven knows the lead players earn every one.

Mike Clark
May 23, 2003
Mike Clark, USA Today

If it's hot this weekend, and your air conditioner is broken, you could do worse. Otherwise, audience annulment proceedings will probably begin in a week or two. Full Review

Susan Walker
May 23, 2003
Susan Walker, Toronto Star

If you've ever enjoyed watching Bergen, Brooks or Douglas, or ever been to a wedding you wish you'd missed, The In-Laws will make you laugh. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
May 23, 2003
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

It's a pleasure to see Douglas in a rare movie where he doesn't have to grit his teeth in tension, just as it's always a pleasure to watch Brooks get mentally tortured. Full Review

Joe Baltake
May 23, 2003
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

There's a lot of running around but not much fun in this strained remake. Full Review

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The In-Laws Trivia

  • in what movie is the phrase 'it's not cut, it's not dry' from?  Answer »
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