The In-Laws

PG

1979

1h 43m

Comedy

List

90%

29 Reviews

Tomatometer

83%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Mild-mannered dentist Sheldon Kornpett (Alan Arkin) is uncomfortable with his daughter's marriage after meeting her future father-in-law, Vincent Ricardo (Peter Falk). Over dinner, Vince tells Sheldon about several of his intercontinental exploits, and Sheldon is concerned that Vince is not altogether what he seems. His suspicions are confirmed when Vince reveals that he's actually a CIA agent investigating an international counterfeiting plot, and that he will need Sheldon's help.

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Critics Consensus

Fueled by inspired casting, The In-Laws is an odd couple comedy whose clever premise is ably supported by a very funny script.

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Alec B

The screenplay could easily have been a little tighter but Falk and Arkin are terrifically cast and the weirder the movie gets the better it is, especially in the final act.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

Full Review

Steve D

The remake shows the idea can work but this one is NEVER funny.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/15/23

Full Review

Matthew D

The In-Laws is one of the funniest 70's comedies! Canadian director Arthur Hiller brings a lively and playful energy to his absurdist comedy The In-Laws (1979). Hiller thrusts his heroes into an oddball pairing of the straight laced Alan Arkin alongside an insane and conniving Peter Falk. They are hilarious together. Hiller delivers gritty 70's crime direction for the truck heist and safe breaker sequences alongside genuinely absurdist humor for the impromptu airplane sequence and ridiculous dictator encounter. Writer Andrew Bergman slaps two strange character actors together for a wild adventure and one of the 1970's genuinely silliest and funniest comedies. From Serpentine to the general's new flag, The In-Laws has tons of laughs. I loved the CIA reveal alongside all of Falk's truly outrageous lies, or are they? Executive producer Alan Arkin got this crazy movie made just to work with Falk and that's just sweet. Casting director Dianne Crittenden found all sorts of cool character actors for the supporting roles too! Editor Robert Swink slick cutting keeps The In-Laws at a sprinting pace for 103 brisk minutes. Cinematographer David M. Walsh captures speeding car chases and frantic running around for hilarious thrills that are well shot. Production designer Pato Guzman creates a lavish general's lair to an ordinary dentist's office. Set decorators Ernie Bishop and Robert De Vestel put tons of funny props and furniture in the general's compound for a lark. Peter Falk's raving and rambling lunatic Vince Ricardo is hysterical. From his strange gestures, funny faces, deadpan seriousness, ludicrous stories, and improvised survival tactics, Falk gives one of his most hilarious acting performances in The In-Laws. Alan Arkin is a scream as the highly strung dentist and straight man opposite Falk named Sheldon Kornpett. Vince and Shelly have a real adventure worthy of your time. Their sheer charisma alone makes the film worth seeking out, but they also elevate the role with wildly erratic movements and vocal gags for even more laughs. Richard Libertini is ridiculous as the overly friendly dictator with a secret named General Garcia. Nancy Dussault's Carol Kornpett and Penny Peyser's Barbara Kornpett are great as they believe the dentist must have been roped into a scheme of Vince's. Arlene Golonka's Jean Ricardo and Michael Lembeck's Tommy Ricardo are amusing as they immediately blame Vince for the shenanigans. James Hong's cameo is a scream as the Chinese pilot speaking only Cantonese. Ed Begley, Jr. is great as the skeptical CIA agent Barry Lutz. Conductor Carmen Dragon even cameos with the orchestra in the end. Composer John Morris provides a very playful and bubbly film score. All the stunt performers did amazing work with the car chase. Sound designers Larry Jost, Ken Dufva, Les Fresholtz, Michael Minkler, Arthur Piantadosi, and Sam F. Shaw makes Arkin's hollers scream and Falk's pistol pop. Costume designer John A. Anderson came up with plenty of neat fitted suits for all the guys and a nice wedding dress for Arkin's daughter. In short, The In-Laws is outrageous and hilarious all these years after its release.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/08/23

Full Review

delysid d

very weird style of comedy here. reminds me of the film mikey and nicky

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/06/22

Full Review

Audience Member

The screenplay could easily have been a little tighter but Falk and Arkin are terrifically cast and the weirder the movie gets the better it is, especially in the final act.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The fathers-to-be of an engaged couple meet and become involved in a high-stakes series of deadly hijinks littered with pratfalls, silliness, and downright zany antics. Arkin and Falk delight as straight man and comic relief and constantly play off each other throughout a series of increasingly wild events. Serpentine, Sheldon! Good for fans of Arkin and silly 70s physical comedies.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

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Arthur Hiller

Director

Peter Falk

Vince Ricardo

Alan Arkin

Sheldon Kornpett

Richard Libertini

General Garcia

Nancy Dussault

Carol Kornpett

Penny Peyser

Barbara Kornpett

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Trevor Johnston

Time Out

A formula comedy raised to heights of hilarity by the kind of off-beam lunacy which probably wouldn't get past the studio suits these days.

Feb 9, 2006

Full Review

Janet Maslin

New York Times

Andrew Bergman has written one of those rare comedy scripts that escalates steadily and hilariously, without faltering or even having to strain for an ending.

May 9, 2005

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

An ungainly blend of Monty Python, The Goldbergs, and My Favorite Spy.

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A clever premise, a witty script, two beautifully matched lead actors in Peter Falk and Alan Arkin, and a supporting performer who almost makes off with the picture like a bandit in the night.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 11, 2023

Full Review

Peter Martin

EverythingButHorror.com

Even better, the film is better than I remembered, and all the jokes are still funny. Andrew Bergman is a great writer. Alan Arkin and Peter Falk are superb actors. Arthur Hiller is a better director than I realized.

Jul 3, 2023

Full Review

Roger Moore

Movie Nation

Every time you rewatch it, what you've forgotten tickles you again, what you've missed gives you a new grin.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jun 3, 2023

Full Review

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Synopsis

Mild-mannered dentist Sheldon Kornpett (Alan Arkin) is uncomfortable with his daughter's marriage after meeting her future father-in-law, Vincent Ricardo (Peter Falk). Over dinner, Vince tells Sheldon about several of his intercontinental exploits, and Sheldon is concerned that Vince is not altogether what he seems. His suspicions are confirmed when Vince reveals that he's actually a CIA agent investigating an international counterfeiting plot, and that he will need Sheldon's help.

Director: Arthur Hiller
Production Co: Warner Bros.
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 2, 2013
Runtime: 1h 43m

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