Taglines: The cake is going to hit the fan.

When prospective fathers-in-law Steve Tobias and Jerry Peyser meet for the first time to celebrate their children’s upcoming marriage, the cake hits the fan. Dr. Jerome Peyser is a mild-mannered podiatrist with a well-organized daily routine designed to eliminate all possible sources of stress. Meanwhile, daredevil CIA operative Steve Tobias moves through life like a heat-seeking missile. His average day consists of dodging bullets, stealing private jets and negotiating with international arms smugglers.

Now he’s giving potential father-of-the-bride Jerry a serious case of pre-nuptial jitters. Steve’s dramatic entrances and exits, his cryptic references to a Russian runaway named Olga and his fight with a gunman in a restaurant washroom causes Jerry to see a vision of his daughter’s perfectly planned wedding blowing up in his face. As far as Jerry’s concerned, letting Steve into his family takes death do us part way too literally.

The In-Laws is an American comedy film starring Michael Douglas, Albert Brooks, Candice Bergen, Robin Tunney, Maria Ricossa, Lindsay Sloane and Ryan Reynolds. The film is a remake of the original 1979 cult classic, which starred Alan Arkin and Peter Falk. Scenes for the 2003 film were shot on location in Chicago. The film was a box office failure, but received mixed reviews.

About the Story

Steve Tobias (Michael Douglas) is an undercover agent of the CIA whose son, Mark (Ryan Reynolds), is getting married to Melissa Peyser (Lindsay Sloane). Her father is mild-mannered foot doctor, Jerry Peyser (Albert Brooks). 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 a bait.

As Peyser’s incidental involvement increases, he is suspected by the FBI of being part of a seemingly malicious deal. Dragged kicking and screaming, Peyser decides he does not want to be involved in the deal or with Tobias’ family. The two fathers-in-law end up dodging bullets, jumping off buildings, and stealing jets together as they attempt to avoid capture by the FBI.

The In-Laws

Directed by: Andrew Fleming
Starring: Michael Douglas, Michael Bodnar, Vladimir Radian, Robin Tunney, Albert Brooks, Boyd Banks, Susan Aceron
Screenplay by: Andrew Bergman, Nat Mauldin, Ed Solomon
Cinematography by: Alexander Gruszynski
Film Editing by: Mia Goldman, Heather Persons
Production Design by: Andrew McAlpine
Art Direction by: Dennis Davenport
Costume Design by: Deborah Everton
Music by: Klaus Badelt, James S. Levine
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Date: May 23, 2003