Review: The In-Laws

…And I thought that Bringing Down the House survived solely because of the power of its two leads! Well, here come Albert Brooks and Michael Douglas, the two men who are able to hold The In-Laws together more successfully than Steve Martin and Queen Latifah were with their movie. This film, in particular, showcases two veteran stars, who are able to turn bad material into a stupendously enjoyable movie-going experience.

The In-Laws is the new remake of one of the best comedies in the seventies. Taking the places of the original stars, Alan Arkin and Peter Falk, are the equally funny Douglas and Brooks. This version of The In-Laws may not be constantly laugh-out-loud funny, but it does offer an extremely enjoyable and rather pleasant trip to the local theatre. I sat in my seat and grinned at the two stars, having as much fun as they looked like they did, making the flick.

If the plot of The In-Laws had been used in any other movie, I would’ve been beating myself over the head while watching it unravel. But this film is, in fact, is amusing because of its craziness. Most of the laughs found in it are not from actual jokes with punch-lines, they’re from the silliness of the story, and events that take place in it. The In-Laws will definitely be a good buy when it’s on DVD because it’s got a type of comedy that never tires, no matter how many times you watch it; good comedy.

Who makes it such a great comedy? The two stars—Douglas and Brooks. The two, as a pair, are one of the most hilarious combinations ever put on film together. Brooks is tremendously inventive and downright hilarious as the phobic and overprotective, control-freak father, scared to let his daughter marry into a family of nutcases—Jerry Peyser. Douglas is also fabulous as Steve Tobias, the crazy secret agent, who Jerry is about to become brother in-law to. Once their son and daughter, Mark (Ryan Reynolds) and Melissa (Lindsay Sloane), marry—these two will be stuck with each other. Douglas and Brooks hilariously entertain the audience with the neurotic feelings that come before Jerry and the care-free attitude of Steve.

The two leads in the film aren’t the only guys who are funny, though. Ryan Reynolds’s performance is also very enjoyable to view. Reynolds, who has made his fair share of bad movies (Van Wilder and such), has finally found a role that does his comedic abilities justice. I laughed at the several quirky defects, for lack of a better term, of his characters personality. I hope he finds characters, just as decent as Mark Tobias in The In-Laws, to play in the future. Reynolds has talent, but needs to put it to use, in other films like this one.

The In-Laws offers an excellent time at the movies, that’s definitely worth the price of a ticket. Brooks and Douglas hold it together, with flying colors, and the help of a well-written screenplay. It will be a great buy (or rental) when it’s out on video, as well, because the jokes in it never tire. The In-Laws was never painful for me to watch, and constantly shows us a good time, unlike the other release the weekend that goes by the name of  Bruce Almighty. To quote the old saying, “Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show,” is only appropriate. The In-Laws won’t disappoint.

-Danny, Bucket Reviews