There is something about Albert Brooks that either makes
you yawn or smile. He has this dry wit about him
-- this seemingly bored comedic presence -- that makes
him somewhat of a cinematic enigma. When he
directs, he is usually flawless - hilarity and cynicism
at their best. When he acts in a film he directs,
the outcome is usually the same, as in the
underestimated classic "Mother", co-starring
Debbie Reynolds. However, when he acts in a film
directed by someone else, the outcome becomes grim and
unpleasant. Only Albert Brooks can direct Albert
Brooks effectively.
In "The In-Laws", Albert Brooks stars as Jerry
Peyser, a foot doctor whose daughter Melissa (Lindsay
Sloane) is about to marry Mark Tobias (Ryan Reynolds).
With the marriage, comes the in-laws. Michael
Douglas co-stars as Steve Tobias, Mark's dad and
international smuggler, who proceeds to take his foot
doctor in law on a series of adventures so ridiculous
and so outlandish, one would have to be mindless to find
any sort of entertainment therein. It kind of
reminded me of the film "I Spy", in which the
government asks an everyday civilian to do the
impossible, which he, of course, manages to do.
And, we are just suppose to believe it. Sure,
there is willful suspension of disbelief, but this is
absurd.
Michael Douglas has been wasting himself lately.
Sure, "It Runs In the Family" was a fine film,
but has he decided to only make comedies now? I
would rather sit through one of his boring and redundant
thrillers than sit through one of his boring and
redundant failed attempts at comedy. And, c'mon,
Ryan Reynolds? This jackass was Van Wilder!!!!
Why not get Tom Green? Why not Carrot Top?
Oh yes -- and when will Candice Bergen stop showing up
as the same character in every film. We saw this
same character in "Miss Congeniality" and
"Sweet Home Alabama". It did not work
then and it does not work now.
For some unholy reason, this film is being billed as a
'big summer movie'. Ha Ha Ha. It is opening
up against "Bruce Almighty". It has a
snowball's chance in hell of making half as much money
as Jim Carrey. I expect this to be a huge box
office bomb and one of those films the actors wish they
had never agreed to make. I saw this at a sneak
preview and that is exactly what it did -- it 'snuck' up
and bit me right in the a$$ -- except, this little turd
was poisonous.
BOOOOOOOOOO!!! To this miserable, pathetic, failed
attempt at anything close to humor. Boo to Brooks
and Boo to Douglas and a Big Boo to Reynolds and Bergen,
who deserve one another. Trailer Trash, here I
come!!!!!
