Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- irreverent
- frantic
- witty
- lazy sunday
- group movie night
What critics said
Critics generally found the remake polished and energetic but less inspired and less genuinely funny than the 1979 original.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jerry's extreme risk aversion clashes with Steve's reckless CIA lifestyle throughout the wedding crisis.
The impending marriage of Melissa and Mark forces Jerry into Steve's undercover mission.
The film remakes the 1979 comedy while adding broader action, espionage spectacle, and a larger production scale.
Steve presents himself as a photocopy-machine salesman while secretly working as a CIA field agent.
Films like The In-Laws, and why
The In-Laws
shared slapstick comedy, mismatched family dynamics, and escalating criminal chaos
True Lies
shared spy spoofing, broad physical comedy, and ordinary civilians caught in covert danger
The Wedding Crashers
shared wedding-centered farce, romantic complications, and high-energy ensemble comedy
Meet the Parents
shared fish-out-of-water humor, crime capers, and uneasy family relationships
Movie Details
- Director
- Andrew Fleming
- Release Date
- 2003-05-23
- Runtime
- 98 min
- Rating
- 5.6 / 10 (320)
Cast
- Michael Douglas
- Albert Brooks
- Ryan Reynolds
- Candice Bergen
- Lindsay Sloane
- Maria Ricossa
- Michael Bodnar
- Vladimir Radian
- Robin Tunney
- Susan Aceron
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The In-Laws about?
- A tightly wound podiatrist is dragged into his future father-in-law’s chaotic CIA operation just days before the family wedding.
- What is The In-Laws like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The In-Laws as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The In-Laws violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The In-Laws as moderate.
- What did critics think of The In-Laws?
- Critics generally found the remake polished and energetic but less inspired and less genuinely funny than the 1979 original.
- Which films are like The In-Laws?
- Films with a similar feel include The In-Laws, True Lies, The Wedding Crashers, and Meet the Parents.
- How long is The In-Laws?
- The In-Laws runs 98 minutes.
- Where can I watch The In-Laws?
- In United States, The In-Laws streams on Howdy Amazon Channel.
