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Techtite's DVD Reviews! |
"To anyone who'd dare disagree [that this film is a classic comedy] --entering a crowded comedy club, shouting at the top of their lungs that this film sucked-- here's a survival tip for you: Serpentine!" --from the preview
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The In-Laws (1979)
Click Picture to order this DVD A Techtite PreviewAs Always, a review of The Film and The DVD (extras)! The Film: I'm not against Michael Douglas and Albert Brooks attempting a 2003 remake of this film. What I was against was the fact that this remake was probably going to be released on DVD, long before the classic film from 1979! Then I'd go to the video store asking (as I frequently do) if The In-Laws is on DVD yet, only to have a young sales trainee point me to the cheap 2003 remake, not the original classic. Well, that worry is no longer an issue: the original film is now on DVD! Huzzah! The story is as inspired as it is based on an everyday event: the inevitable day, prior to a marriage, when two potential father in-laws meet for the first time. In one corner is the father of the bride, Sheldon (Alan Arkin), an otherwise unremarkable, family-man dentist. As the father of the groom, we have Vince Ricardo (Peter Falk), a mysterious man who for some reason, in the opening credits, has just robbed a bank truck. Don't worry; he didn't steal any money, just the mint plates. How crazy is this guy? That's a question Sheldon will learn soon enough. The mayhem begins when soon after a dinner at Sheldon's house, Vince hides one of the plates in Sheldon's basement, as protection from those who want more money for the heist. Sheldon's wife finds the plate only to obliviously go to her bank to see what it is. This leads to Sheldon being dragged into Vince's latest scheme right alongside him, which includes the CIA, a spurious third-world country, and a hilariously overplayed dictator named General Garcia (Richard Libertini, in what is irrefutably the most unforgettable character performance of his career). By then, it's not a matter of whether Vince is a whacko or not; the question is if these two fathers can make it to the wedding in time! Just about every scene in this film is golden, due in no small part to the two lead stars. I know this is a probably overused cliché, though Peter Falk and Alan Arkin are like peanut butter and jelly. Their timing and delivery of their lines mesh perfectly together. What's even better: their dialog is well written. More often than not, modern comedy has either the most lame-brained conversations you ever heard, or they try so hard to be cerebral that you buy a Pepsi at the concession stand just to stay awake. This film's dialog is different; not one single line of this 103 minute film is boring. From Vince's laughably spurious stories at the dinner table to his endless barrage of lies to Sheldon as to how much danger they are in, every line is a keeper. As with all well written comedies, there are several blurbs here and there which you'll repeat years after you see the film, reminding everyone present of a classic comedy moment. "There are FLAMES on my car!" cries Sheldon, when a car chase leads him into a drive-thru car painting service. Meanwhile, Vince's tale of his trip to South America, where "tsetse flies with beaks carried young children away," is one of the most unforgettable dinner conversations in comedy history. However, it's Vince's survival plan, "Serpentine!" which became the buzz word of choice throughout 1979. You'd think this is overstating the memorable impact of this comedy. You'd be surprised. I can't describe how overjoyed I was to learn this film was out on DVD. I so much want everyone to go out and put this comedy on their video shelf right now; send me a letter if you're not convinced, and I'll add addendums to this review until you are. To anyone who'd dare disagree --entering a crowded comedy club, shouting at the top of their lungs that this film sucked-- here's a survival tip for you: Serpentine!
The DVD: May 13th, 2003 was a very good day for me; it was the day this film was finally (and I do mean finally) released on DVD! Finally (have I said "finally" enough? NO!), we have a comedy that deserved to be preserved in digital video format, given the respect it deserves. I mean, come on; how long were we to tolerate Freddy Got Fingered being out on DVD, and not this? But I digress... Although it isn't mentioned in various online reports about this disc, there is indeed an audio commentary, by none other than Peter Falk and Alan Arkin. It also includes director Arthur Hiller, and writer Andrew Bergman. Considering this is a DVD released nearly 24 years after the actual film, this commentary is a major coup. What's better: it was done in "present day," not a mere compilation of 1970's interviews. This means that there are not just anecdotes from the time of filming, though the stories of fans and positive response the film received ever since. Fans should be thrilled. I think this review is the best place to say a conclusion I've made, after listening to over half a decade of audio commentary tracks by now. The way I see it, even if you rent a film --not knowing if you're going to like it or not-- the best way to know in advance is to jump to the end credits, with the audio comment track turned on. If the director, writer, and cast are still talking on and on, that's a film worth seeing. Too many times you have a cast so ready to leave the sound booth to return to their lives, it's more like, "well, that's it...c-ya!" as soon as the first crewman's name scrolls onto the screen. When the cast is so into their anecdotes that they're still talking at least two minutes into the final credit roll: that's the film you want to see! Granted, this film's cast and crew aren't as into their anecdotes as Fast Times at Ridgemont High's Amy Heckerling and Cameron Crowe, who were still talking, ten minutes after the film's was over! As I said; it's the extended audio commentaries, that herald the most classic of movies because, clearly, those would have the best anecdotes to share. Granted, there isn't much else on the disc: just the original film trailer (which for any 20+ year old film is worth preserving anyway) and the obligatory cast bios slideshow. However, the film itself is such a classic, it's such a major thrill to get an audio commentary as elaborate as the one offered here. The In-Laws, on DVD. With a commentary track. Finally, the DVD comedy shelf is looking better and better.
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