The In-Laws
The makers of
The In-Laws
seem to think that if they change the character names and some of the
specific plot points, we won’t compare their movie to the 1979 Peter
Falk-Alan Arkin comedy classic by the same name that it is (loosely, they
swear) based on. No such luck, guys. If you are going to remake an
acknowledged comic masterpiece that is still widely available on video, then
you are going to have to live with the comparisons. That said, the new
version of
The In-Laws
can’t hold a candle to its source. It’s not a horrible movie, mind you,
it’s just very average, and when you hear this title you expect a lot more
than that. In fact, I
feel the original is one of the five funniest films ever.
In the new
version, Albert Brooks has some wonderful moments as Dr. Peyser.
(Strangely, the new last name for the doctor is the same as the name of the
actress who played his daughter in the original. Coincidence? Beats me,
but I figured I’d mention it.) His buttoned down panic as his world slowly
comes more and more unraveled is genuinely funny, although his deadpan take
on the role loses some of Arkin’s manic energy and panic for the same role.
Michael Douglas is let down by his material, though, precisely because his
CIA agent character is not allowed to show the potential danger or moral
bankruptcy that has become Douglas’ stock-in-trade. Instead he is made to
be forever cheerful, except for when he is thinking about what a bad parent
he has been to his son (Ryan Reynolds of
Two Guys & A Girl,
who is so bland and slimy that you almost don’t blame Douglas for being out
of the picture.)
The only character that actually adds to the new version
is Candice Bergen as Douglas’ bitter, new age spouting ex-wife. Bergen is
genuinely funny in the role, even though she has been playing variations on
this same role for the last several years in
Miss Congeniality,
Sweet Home Alabama
and others.
But otherwise, the movie keeps fumbling the ball by assuming
that if it adds bigger stunts it will be funnier. Therefore, instead of
having the future in-laws meet and having the doctor take an instant
distrust to his daughter’s future father-in-law through hilarious dialogue,
it becomes an action set piece with FBI agents, fights in the men’s room,
and a strange dish that seemed to be boa constrictor. The sublimely loony
banana republic bad guy from the original becomes an extremely homophobic
and xenophobic stereotype of a gay French gangster. (Although, I’m sure
George W. Bush will be pleased with the portrayal.)
By the time a tidal
wave destroys the wedding proceedings, the seams have been showing too
long. But, giving the filmmakers what they want, and proceeding as if the
new film was a completely original entity, it is a reasonably good comedy,
but nothing to write home about. So, there are worse ways to spend your
time than seeing the new version of
The In-Laws.
But, you’d be much
better off just renting the original again.
(5/03)
Jay
S. Jacobs
Copyright ©2003
PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved.
Posted: June 3, 2003.
