The In-Laws (2003 film)

Steve Tobias is an undercover agent of the CIA whose son, Mark, is marrying Melissa Peyser. Her father is mild-mannered foot doctor, Jerry Peyser. When the two families meet for dinner, Peyser stumbles on to Steve Tobias' secret operation as Tobias tries to set up a deal to sell a Russian submarine, the Olga, to an arms smuggler in France as bait to catch arms smugglers. As Peyser's incidental involvement increases, he is suspected by the FBI of being part of a seemingly malicious deal. Peyser does not want to be involved in the deal or with Tobias' family but is either dragged in against his will or tricked into participating in wild escapades with Tobias. The two future fathers-in-law end up dodging bullets, jumping off buildings, and stealing jets together as they attempt to avoid capture by the FBI. After the wedding reception ends with a last chase scene, they are finally left alone with only their children and wives to have a quiet marriage ceremony, presided over by the FBI agent who was chasing them. == Cast ==

Box office The film was released in theaters on May 23, 2003, opening against Bruce Almighty in North America. It finished its first weekend in 5th place with $7,319,848. It was a box office disappointment, ultimately recouping just under $27 million of its $40 million budget. On Metacritic, it has a score of 46 out of 100 based on 32 critics’ reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times awarded the film 2 out of 4 stars, writing "The In-Laws is an accomplished but not inspired remake of a 1979 comedy which was inspired and so did not need to be accomplished. The earlier movie was slapdash and at times seemed to be making itself up as it went along, but it had big laughs and a kind of lunacy. The remake knows the moves but lacks the recklessness." Ebert felt the remake lacked the comedic chemistry of Alan Arkin and Peter Falk in the original film, adding "Comedy works better when the characters seem utterly unaware that they are being funny." == See also ==