Rating: Summary: Mildly Entertaining Comedy Featuring Great Albert Brooks Review: It's a pity that Albert Brooks doesn't do many films -- when he does, he is always worth the time and money you spend, even in deeply flawed 'Muse.' Now, another one comes starring Michael Douglas and Albert Brooks, a buddy-buddy comedy loosely based on the 1979 film of the same title featuring Peter Falk and Alan Arkin. Remake? Not exactly.
Main character is Michael Douglas's CIA undercover agent, whose son is going to marry the daughter of Albert Brooks, who plays a nervous foot-doctor. As you know, the latter doesn't know the identity of Douglas, who, to him, looks at first acting very strange. Normally your father of the bride wouldn't like to see the daddy of your son-in-law talking about a certain 'Olga' (actually, a nuke submarine), and kicking a stranger in the men's room.
The poorly written script goes on, including the French villain played by David Suchet, before whom Albert Brooks, now in the secret of Douglas's real job, has to act like a real killer (named 'Cobra'). There is a story about arms dealers, bumbling FBI men, or the sub I mentioned, but sorry, they are all forgettable.
But the comic pair of Douglas and Brooks work up to a point, and there are funny scenes surrounding Brooks and Suchet, even though it's just another gay joke (which is done well in itself). When Brooks is on the screen, you can say that he gives every scene a great comic touch, with perfect comic timing. Douglas, more serious and straight than him, is not bad as a foil, though I suspect someone else could be a better choice.
The director is Andrew Fleming ('Dick'), who certaily has great ideas but somehow stops exploring them furthrr. The supports are therefore underdeveloped, Candice Bergen as ex-wife of Douglas character, in particular. Her turn as a comic (with sexual nature that makes you giggle) is surprisingly good, but she is given too short time to impress us, so is Robin Tunney or Lindsay Sloane.
So should we see it? It depends; there are good things, to be sure, but slick as it is, this new one is too tame and too normal.
Rating: Summary: An utter failure Review: It's hard to understand what the filmmakers hoped to accomplish with this film. It pales in comparison with the Peter Falk/Alan Arkin orginal. That film is still fresh and funny.
Rating: Summary: For A Good Laugh See This Review: Lucky for me I did not read the reviews nor have I ever seen the original of 'The In-Laws'. I do not know that that would have mattered because I was delighted with this movie. I saw it in Singapore in June and laughed and then I saw it again last week in Moscow and laughed all over again. I'll definitely be adding this comedy to my collection of need a laugh movies that includes 'Meet the Parents', 'Rush Hour 1 and 2', 'Stripes' and other assorted frivilous fun movies!
Rating: Summary: The In-Laws Review: Man this movie sucks!I heard it was bad but I had no idea it was this bad.The plot is stupid and I di not laugh once during the whole film.Hello! This is suppose to be a comedy.The cast is fair but they aren't at their best but look what they had to work with.The characters are so annoying especially the couple that is going to get married.This definetly down there with Legally Blonde 2.They try to make it big and fancy with cool scenes and neat gadgets, but it sucks.The whole film is so utterly boring.My eyes were burning.This was suppose to be a book adaption, but I think the book probably sucked.Anyone who can sit through almost an hour and a half and think this is good has problems.Make sure to never check this one out.Dr. Jerome Peyser is a mild-mannered podiatrist with a well-organized daily routine designed to eliminate all possible sources of stress. In his functional (if unfashionable) fanny pack 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 -- just in case.Meanwhile, daredevil CIA operative Steve Tobias moves through life like a heat-seeking missile. His average day consists of dodging bullets, stealing private jets and negotiating with international arms smugglers. Steve's unpredictable lifestyle has already driven ex-wife Judy (CANDICE BERGEN) to an ashram for some peace and has strained his relationship with son Mark (RYAN REYNOLDS) -- possibly beyond repair. Now he's giving potential father-of-the-bride Jerry a serious case of pre-nuptial jitters.Steve's dramatic entrances and exits, his cryptic references to a Russian runaway named Olga and his fight with a gunman in a restaurant washroom causes Jerry to see a vision of his daughter's (LINDSAY SLOANE) perfectly planned wedding blowing up in his face. As far as Jerry's concerned, letting Steve into his family takes "til death do us part" way too literally.Before he can say the wedding is off, Jerry 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. Adding insult to injury is Steve's partner Angela (ROBIN TUNNEY), a dedicated agent who doesn't hide her hostility toward the uncooperative doctor who is -- for better or worse -- along for the ride.But when their children are in danger, Jerry and Steve will discover they can truly be an effective team -- as jet pack meets fanny pack in this riotous remake of the 1979 comedy The In-Laws. -- © Warner Bros. "Watching The In-Laws is like listening to a drawn-out, gruesomely inappropriate toast made at a posh wedding reception by a dissolute best man." -- Gene Seymour, NEWSDAY
Rating: Summary: Disappointing Remake! Review: Michael Douglas and Albert Brooks are wasted in this poor remake of the 1979 classic. In fact, this movie was not funny at all! The screenplay is just dreadful. Give it an extra star for trying, though as it did have a little suspense to it. Just not enough to save it from self destruction. They should have left it alone instead of trying to make money off of it, which is the only reason why I could think of this being remade. Disappointing!!
Rating: Summary: The Odd Couple Review: Michael Douglas and Albert Brooks play prospective fathers-in-law who are mismatched in every way. Douglas is an undercover CIA agent who lives on the edge and who has always interrupted family events in order to carry on his spying. Brooks is an uptight podiatrist who is afraid of flying, heights and just about anything that would take him out of his comfortable rut. Little does he know what he is getting himself in for when he unwillingly teams up with his daughter's future father-in-law. Suddenly he is flying in a plane "borrowed" from Barbra Streisand to an exotic location, in order to make a deal with a powerful smuggler. Douglas's suave Bond-like actions are the perfect foil for the neurotic twitches of Brooks. This is an amusing comedy which lives off the chemistry between Douglas and Brooks. Throw away your critical eye and just enjoy this one for the laughs!
Rating: Summary: Douglas and Brooks Gel in Action/Comedy Review: Most critics gave this movie only an average review. I must admit that when I first heard they were going to do a remake of the Alan Arkin/Peter Falk 1979 comedy, I thought it was an incredibly stupid idea. But when I heard that the movie was going to star Michael Douglas and Albert Brooks, my interest was piqued. I can't think of an Albert Brooks movie that didn't make me laugh out loud. And Micheal Douglas is exceptionally funny in comic roles, even though most of his work is in drama and action movies. I thought this movie was incredibly funny from start to finish. Douglas and Brooks make an excellent team and I hope they make more movies together. Also, I think what helped this movie work was that it wasn't a direct remake of the original. The only similarities between the two is that they're about 2 men whose children are about to marry, and that one is a doctor and the other is a Federal Agent. The similarities pretty much end there. The story lines between the two are completely different. I read one critics review that said they should have incorporated the Senor Pepe segment (masterfully done by Richard Libertini in the original)in the remake, but I feel that would have been a maistake. As a credit to the Producers of "The In-Laws", they didn't try to steal any thunder from the original but instead created their own thunder. If you're a fan of either Michael Douglas or Albert Brooks(or both, as I am), I highly recommend this a movie to add to your DVD library.
Rating: Summary: Why doesn't Warner Brothers do better movies like this..... Review: Mostly clean humor and some good performances highlight this remake of a 1979 film where two Dads drive each other crazy while trying to stop an arms dealer from buying a nuclear submarine. A good outing for Michael Douglas and the cast.
Rating: Summary: UUUHHHHGHGGG!!!!!! Review: My parents and I watched this movie, and were not expecting what we got. You see, it was supposed to be really funny, but it turned out boring, bland, and full of bad jokes. Do not waste youre money on this garbage, all it is, is a waste of time, and even the money it costs to rent it!
Rating: Summary: Weird.... Review: Of course I am too young to even remember the original. or if I was old enough to remember, I did not see the original...but with that said, the movie was not that good to be honest. It was totally weird, and quite boring...not at all what I expected out of this ensemble cast!!! Skip this one!!
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