THE IN-LAWS
A Warner Bros. Release

review by Joseph B. Mauceri

SYNOPSIS: Dr. Jerome Peyser (BROOKS) is a mild-mannered podiatrist who lives by a well-organized daily routine in order to eliminate stress. He's the kind of guy who wears a fanny pack, where he keeps a sanitary drinking cup in case he needs a sip of water away from home, a couple of Lorna Doones in case his blood sugar slumps a few points between meals, and a personal security alarm.

Then there is his daughter's future father-in-law, Steve Tobias (DOUGLAS). A daredevil CIA operative, his average day consists of dodging bullets, stealing private jets and negotiating with international arms smugglers. Steve's unpredictable lifestyle has driven his ex-wife Judy (BERGEN) to an ashram to try and find some peace and has strained his relationship with son Mark (REYNOLDS).

The prospective fathers-in-law meet for the first time to celebrate their children's upcoming marriage, and things spiral out of control from there. Steve makes a dramatic  exit for the restaurant's washroom, where Jerry overhears Steve's cryptic references to a Russian runaway named Olga and witnesses his fight with a gunman. Before Jerry  can call off the wedding, he suddenly finds himself embroiled in the chaos that follows in Steve's wake as he is dragged, kicking and screaming, into a series of perilous adventures that take the mismatched in-laws-to-be halfway around the world.

REVIEW: THE IN-LAWS is, literally, a retelling of the 1979 Arthur Hiller film that starred Peter Falk and Allan Arkin. Hiller directed many great comedies, such as "The Out-of-Towners" and "Silver Streak" in addition to numerous other memorable films. Yes, he is the Academy Award nominated director of "Love Story." Being just shy of 25 years, is it time for the retelling of this classic?

I use the word "retelling" because the plot employs the basic setup of the original, but makes major changes in the rest of the story. Douglas' character still works for the government, and Brooks' part is still in the medical profession, a podiatrist instead of a dentist. The screenwriters have come up with new gags and a contemporary threat. They've given Douglas and Brooks a chance to play off each other in a dynamic that is a bit "The Odd Couple" with an interaction that is a bit like the "Lethal Weapon" films.

However, director Andrew Fleming doesn't have the budget of a "Lethal Weapon" film to work with. This is the first real Îaction" film for Fleming, whose previous films include a horror film, "Bad Dreams," and a romantic comedy, "Threesome." The action in THE IN-LAWS comes mostly from the interaction between Douglas and Brooks. As the "undercover agent," Douglas gets to play a little in an action sequence that opens the film, and it unfolds with Paul McCartney's "Live and Let Die" playing in the background. However, it plays out more like a Steve McQueen car chase than a "Die Hard" film. There's another "big" sequence for the climax but, again, it's a bit tame by today's standards. In fact, the special effects have a look and a feel that aren't up to snuff with even some of the simplest effects being done on television today.

Given what he has to work with which, for the most part, is a great cast, Fleming does an admirable job of delivering a delightfully entertaining film. He keeps the camera focused on Douglas and Brooks and lets their charisma carry the film. The rest of the cast takes a back seat to the duo, but Candice Bergen and David Suchet come up with memorable performances that steal a bit of Douglas' and Brooks' thunder. The bits between Douglas and Bergen, and Brooks with Suchet, are some of the funniest moments in the film. I felt there just wasn't enough of Bergen and Suchet in the film.

I was mildly optimistic entering the theater and left, thinking, THE IN-LAWS was better than I'd expected it to be. Still, the film left me with this television "movie of the week" feeling that had me wondering if it is really worth the high price of a ticket these days. Still, a more adult film than can usually be found at your local cinema for this time of year, it is easily worth the price of a "bargain matinee."

OFFICIAL WEB SITE:
www.thein-laws.warnerbros.com

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