DVD Capsule Review

The In-Laws (2003)

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Credits

Release Date: May 23, 2003; Rated: PG-13; DVD Release Date: Oct 07, 2003; Genres: Comedy, Romance; With: Albert Brooks and Michael Douglas; Distributor: Warner Bros.

By Josh Wolk

Josh Wolk

Josh Wolk is a senior writer at EW and the author of ''Cabin Pressure: One Man's Desparate Attempt to Recapture His Youth as a Camp Counselor''

How do you remake the 1979 farcical adventure of a rogue CIA agent sweeping a whiny dentist into intrigue on the eve of their kids' wedding? Why, make the escapades more shrill, have barely detectable chemistry between the two leads, and add a weak stab at parental sensitivity that the original had the good sense to avoid, of course! EXTRAS The ''gag reel'' has mostly blooper-free shots of the cast and crew standing around, and though you'd think the advertised ''multiple takes'' of two Brooks scenes would ensure the delight of seeing the brilliant comic improvise, they're just clips of him repeating limp lines with only minor inflection changes. In his dry, minutiae-filled commentary, director Andrew Fleming talks about how hard it is to make Brooks laugh. Safe to assume this film didn't succeed.

Posted Oct 17, 2003

More

Movie Commentary Funny film dads: Alan Arkin and Peter Falk in ''The In-Laws'' (May 23, 2003)
Movie Review The In-Laws (May 23, 2003) | Lisa Schwarzbaum
Video Review Meet the Parents; The In-Laws | Bruce Fretts
Movie News Here are the summer movie box office losers (Jun 20, 2003)
Movie News Albert Brooks takes a look back on his career (1987) | Benjamin Svetkey
Filmography Kick in the Bells (1984) | Marc Bernardin

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