IN-LAWS (1979/DVD) DVD

The In-Laws
Dentist Sheldon Kornpett (Alan Arkin) is a respectable man. He has a daughter who is about to marry the son of a very suspicious character, Vince Ricardo (Peter Falk). They are practically relatives already, the wedding is so near. Certainly, Sheldon already despises Vince as if he were already a well-known relative. Nontheless, Vince calls on Sheldon and convinces him to go with him on a series of wild and hilarious adventures, claiming all the while that he is a CIA agent, and that what he is doing is in the national interest. Sheldon follows Vince to a South American country ruled by a very odd man, General Garcia (Richard Libertini), who talks to his hand (which talks back). It seems that the dictator is involved in a scheme to counterfeit and undermine U.S. currency. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Cast Peter Falk as Vince Ricardo Alan Arkin as Sheldon Kornpett Richard Libertini as Gen. Garcia Nancy Dussault as Carol Kornpett Arlene Golonka as Jean Ricardo Penny Peyser as Barbara Kornpett Ed Begley Jr. as Barry Lutz Michael Lembeck as Tommy Ricardo Carmine Caridi as Angie Sammy Smith as Mr. Hirschorn James Hong as Bing Wong

Crew Dorothy Wilde - Associate Producer Dianne Crittenden - Casting Jack Roe - First Assistant Director Arthur Hiller - Director Robert Swink - Editor Alan Arkin - Executive Producer John Morris - Composer (Music Score) Del Armstrong - Makeup Eric D. Andersen - Camera Operator Pato Guzman - Production Designer David M. Walsh - Cinematographer Monroe Sachson - Producer Arthur Hiller - Producer William Sackheim - Producer Ernie Bishop - Set Designer Robert de Vestel - Set Designer Milt Rice - Special Effects Larry Jost - Sound/Sound Designer Andrew Bergman - Screenwriter

The In-Laws
Why aren't there more films co-starring Alan Arkin and Peter Falk? Writer Andrew Bergman's loopy comedy takes full advantage of the prodigious talent of this double act, giving the two numerous chances to play off one another, and director Arthur Hiller artfully builds the comedy one ticklish brick at a time. In comedies, pace is everything: Even master directors of rigorously timed action films such as Steven Spielberg have bombed badly (1941) when they've tried to be funny. Bergman and Hiller start with a solid-enough premise, the old joke about crazy in-laws, and slowly, quietly add comic layer upon layer. Arkin's mournful gravity lends a humorous reality to the film and Falk's lunacy is so unaffected it seems almost innocent. Yet he's sly, too: The audience can sense his character's innate shrewdness no matter how crazy he seems. Michael Lembeck and Penny Peyser contribute nice bits as the betrothed -- their reaction to the money their fathers have scammed is priceless -- as does Ed Begley Jr. as a CIA station chief. Only Richard Libertini seems to go over the top as the lunatic South American dictator. Still, as in later Bergman works such as The Freshman, there's an underlying affection and sweetness to The In-Laws that makes it a treat. ~ Nick Sambides, Jr., All Movie Guide
 

(no awards)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, French, Spanish Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish, Por Sound Processing: DD1: Dolby Digital Mono Additional Features: cc Feature-length audio commentary by Peter Falk, Alan Arkin, director Arthur Hiller, and writer Andrew Bergman Interactive menus Theatrical trailer Scene access Cast/director/writer film highlights Languages: English, Français & Español Subtitles: English, Français, Español, & Português DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1: Theatre Wide-Screen MPAA Rating: PG DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 103 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 1. The Big Grab [3:37] 2. Hand-Off to Vince [3:21] 3. Extraordinary Tooth [2:52] 4. Eagle-Sized Testses [4:09] 5. Weird Phone Call Time [4:32] 6. Projecting Like Crazy [2:46] 7. Family Favor [3:41] 8. Safecracker Sheldon [1:09] 9. Benefits Program Key [4:53] 10. Out of My Life! [2:33] 11. $500 a Plate [2:08] 12. Too Risky Business [4:26] 13. Fugitive Dentist [6:48] 14. Flames on My Car [3:53] 15. Not Quite Scranton [2:19] 16. Tijada Welcome [5:14] 17. Out on a Mental [4:17] 18. Dangerous and Crazy [4:34] 19. Tijada Taxi [2:36] 20. Pigs and Bananas [3:36] 21. The General and Pepe [4:00] 22. Go With the Flow [3:59] 23. Firing Squad Diversions [2:31] 24. Retirement [5:01] 25. Drop-in In-Laws [4:18] 26. Wedding Presents [2:07] 27. End Credits [4:12]