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(About Our Ads) "THE IN-LAWS" (2003) (Michael Douglas, Albert Brooks) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Moderate *None Heavy Mild Heavy Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Minor None Minor Mild Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy None Mild Mild *Heavy QUICK TAKE: Comedy: A podiatrist learns that his pending in-law is a possible rogue CIA agent as the latter takes the former on a wild ride of espionage right before their kids' wedding. PLOT: Jerry Peyser (ALBERT BROOKS) is a conservative podiatrist who, along with his wife Katherine (MARIA RICOSSA), is looking forward to the marriage of their daughter, Melissa (LINDSAY SLOANE), to her boyfriend Mark (RYAN REYNOLDS). Little does he know that his future in-law, Steve Tobias (MICHAEL DOUGLAS), isn't a copier salesman. Instead, he's a deep-cover CIA agent who, along with partner Angela Harris (ROBIN TUNNEY), is trying to take down Jean-Pierre Thibodoux (DAVID SUCHET), an international smuggler who's interested in a Russian sub named Olga. On the night of their first meeting, Jerry learns of Steve's real profession and immediately wants to call off the wedding. It's not long, however, before he's targeted by FBI Agent Will Hutchins (RUSSELL ANDREWS) and his team who claim that Tobias is a rogue agent with own agenda. After Steven and Angela rescue Jerry, he soon finds himself traveling overseas where he meets the flamboyant but volatile Thibodoux who takes an instant and unwelcome liking to him. From that point on, Jerry tries to stay out of harm's way and prepare for the upcoming nuptials as well as the arrival of Steve's bitter ex-wife, Judy (CANDICE BERGEN), all of which promise to make this a wedding no one will forget. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of someone in the cast, they might, but this one might play too old for most kids. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For suggestive humor, language, some drug references and action violence. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: MICHAEL DOUGLAS plays a deep cover CIA agent who may or may not be a rogue. He's a charming fellow who always sweet talks his way out of problems, whether their agency or family based. He also briefly uses some strong profanity and fights various bad guys. ALBERT BROOKS plays a conservative podiatrist who can't believe what Steve turns out to be or the predicaments into which he gets him involved. He uses some profanity. ROBIN TUNNEY plays Steve's CIA partner who assists his various exploits. She briefly uses some profanity and hits Jerry various times. RYAN REYNOLDS plays Mark's son who's sworn to secrecy about his dad and thus can't tell Melissa. LINDSAY SLOANE plays his bride-to-be who develops second thoughts about the wedding due to the actions of Steve, Mark and others. MARIA RICOSSA plays her mother and Jerry's faithful wife. CANDICE BERGEN plays Steve's bitter ex-wife who can't stand him or his actions, but fondly recalls their sex life. DAVID SUCHET plays a flamboyant drug and arms smuggler who has gay tendencies and likes Jerry. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this action-comedy that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 "f" word, while other expletives and colorful phrases are used. Some sexually related dialogue and comedic innuendo are present, a man comes on to another man despite saying he detests homosexuality (and includes a kiss) and some scantily clad people (in swimsuits) are briefly seen. Violence consists of a person being shot and killed, more shooting at others, people hitting others, some property damage and a few action scenes that might possibly be tense or suspenseful to a few viewers. Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, some drink, one might smoke a joint and some drug references are present. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Steve, his son and Jerry's family have some sort of beer at a restaurant and raise a toast with it. An FBI agent thinks that Jerry is "tripping on drugs" (he's not) after they arrest him. Steve gives Jerry some sort of substance that knocks him out. Women have drinks at a bachelorette party and one states she's going to get drunk. She's hung-over the following day. There's talk that Jean-Pierre smuggles drugs among other things (he later admits to smuggling cocaine). Various people have drinks. Jean-Pierre has wine with Jerry who nervously downs his glass in one gulp. Some people have drinks. A hotel worker appears to be smoking a joint, but it's hard to say. People have drinks at a rehearsal dinner, including some women who drink shots. People have champagne at a wedding, while some guys have beer. BLOOD/GORE Jerry runs into a private plane's bathroom to vomit (from fear/anxiety) but is distracted from doing so. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE The villains - mainly Jean-Pierre - have bad attitudes for being criminals and/or attempting to kill others. In addition, Jean-Pierre states that he finds homosexuality disgusting, but then comes on to Jerry. The bridesmaid tells Melissa that she slept with the groom several years ago. An agent turns sides and goes bad. FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" might also be tense or suspenseful to some viewers, but most are played for comedy, action or a mix thereof rather than graphic realism. There are several scenes where planes appear to be in danger, but everything turns out okay and no one is harmed. Steve grabs Jerry, hooks the two of them together, and then jumps from a very high roof (with a parachute). Steve and Jerry try to attract and then elude a noise-guided torpedo as they ride a jet ski. GUNS/WEAPONS Handguns/Machine guns/Torpedo: Seen, carried and/or used to threaten, shoot at or kill others. See "Violence" for details. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "F*ck you very much," "Oh, sh*t," "Don't be a p*ssy," "Screw(ed) up," "Smart ass," "Piss," "Screw me" (nonsexual), "Freaking out," "Where the hell have you been?" "Who the hell is this?" "Bastard," "What the hell /is that/is happening?" "Get the hell out of here," "Kiss my ass," "Idiot," "You suck," "Jerk off" (nonsexual and in subtitles) and "Skank." Melissa wears a midriff-revealing top. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A tiny bit of such music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) A song has the line, "Do a little dance, make a little love, get down tonight." PROFANITY At least 1 "f" word, 4 "s" words, 2 slang terms using female genitals ("p*ssy"), 7 hells, 2 asses, 2 S.O.B.s (and another incomplete one), 1 damn, 9 uses of "Oh my God," 2 each of "My God" and "Oh God" and 1 use each of "Holy Mother of God" and "Jesus Christ" as exclamations. SEX/NUDITY Jerry overhears Steve talking to a woman in a men's room stall. They're talking business (about some spy material, etc.) but Jerry mistakes what they say (and we hear it as innuendo, including comments about "take it out" and "put it in" and "I'll do it"). When Steve realizes that Jerry is on his hands and knees trying to get a better look, he asks Jerry if he has some sort of bathroom stall fetish and mentions websites for someone like him. A woman turns around and shows other women her standard panties that have the word "bridesmaid" on the back of them (at a bachelorette party). Melissa states that when she opened the door at her bachelorette party she thought the FBI agents were strippers. We see various women in bikinis at Jean-Pierre's place (including one who we see from behind in what's nearly a thong bottom). Steve tells Jerry that he told Jean-Pierre that Jerry's nickname is "Fat Cobra" and then looks down at his clothed crotch to indicate what that stands for. Although he later states that he finds homosexuality disgusting, Jean-Pierre is obviously attracted to Jerry and eventually says so (saying he needs the company of a man) and even kisses him in a tub. As Jerry exits that tub, we see most his bare butt in his French-cut (like a thong) bathing suit. Judy states that she and Steve used to have fantastic and crazy sex. Judy asks Steve why he used to do something like a little girl during orgasm. The bridesmaid tells Melissa that she slept with the groom several years ago. Jerry states that Steve is the worst father he knows and sarcastically wonders if he mailed his sperm in during sex. Angela shows some cleavage, as does Melissa later on. Judy suggestively tells Steve that she's got a room back at a club. SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES We hear that Steve and his ex-wife Judy are no longer together and don't get along. We later see examples of that. Jean-Pierre admits that he killed his wife (said for comedy). TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT In-laws. The CIA and FBI and their respective efforts. For those sensitive about rape issues, there's a joke where Jerry realizes that Steve has given him a "roofie" (similar to a date rape drug) and then pleads as he passes out, "Don't rape me." Steve blackmails an FBI agent with photos he has of the man dressed as a woman. VIOLENCE Much of the following is played for comedy and/or action rather than realism. A person is shot and killed in a car (no blood) and others then open fire on Steve as he tries to drive away in a car (that runs over an empty guardhouse, through a fence and causes another car to crash into it). Later, many people shoot at a plane as it takes off from a runaway. It then crashes and explodes on the ground, but we see that it was being piloted via remote control (no one was inside). Men then open fire on Steve and Angela as they escape in another jet (some bullets hit it). Steve hits, kicks and disarms a man with a gun. He then slams him back against a bathroom wall and has him by the throat. That man then hits him, but Steve punches and kicks him back and throws him back against the wall again. FBI agents aim guns at Jerry. Angela inserts some sort of gas into an FBI car and Steve blows open its door to free Jerry. Angela punches Jerry in the face and then jokingly holds a gun to his head, stating that they have to kill him (after he learns that they're CIA). Jean-Pierre shoots a machine gun at a man who stole from him (after he lets the man run off, but he doesn't hit him). Steve shoots a dart that hits a guard in the neck, rendering him unconscious. FBI agents aim guns at Jerry. Angela kicks Jerry in the head, knocking him out. Angela kicks Steve twice, trips him to the floor and then holds a gun on him. Jerry grabs Jean-Pierre's sore foot to cause him pain, but Angela punches Jerry in the face. Steve hits several men, while Mark punches another. Jean-Pierre pushes Angela from a fast-moving boat (she lands in the water). A torpedo is guided back to the sub that fired it and explodes (we don't see the explosion or damage). We do see, however, the resultant wave of water that crashes into a wedding reception and sweeps various people and tables, etc. across the room. Reviewed May 8, 2003 / Posted May 23, 2003