Laugh out loud with The In-Laws

Q. What do you get when you put Alan Arkin with
Peter Falk for 103 minutes?

A. A movie that makes your sides split with laughter

B. Textbook lessons in understated facial expression
by Arkin

C. Lines of comedy that you can quote throughout your
daily life

D. All of the above.

If you've seen The In-Laws, you know the answer
is D. This movie has cracked me up every time I've
seen it from it's premiere in 1979 to it's current day
video incarnation. Farcical in his portrayal as CIA
agent Vince Ricardo, Falk keeps the movie hopping.
Arkin's character Sheldon Kornpett is introduced to
Falk by their engaged children. A quiet dentist,
Kornpett is drawn into Ricardo's schemes kicking and
screaming.

Secret from the movie's characters and audience alike
is Vince Ricardo's actual status. Is he really with
the CIA? Or more likely, is he an escaped mental
patient? Who knows? But the premise, simple as it
is, is a good driving force for this comedy.

Why does Vince Ricardo need a sidekick? Turns out
he's in a little over his head. When trouble follows
him, he needs someone respectable, someone like an
unassuming dentist, to further his plots. Sheldon
Kornpett is perfectly naive. Alan Arkin is the
master of subtle facial emotions. Those who wish to
study deadpan perfection need look no further than
Arkin's role in this film.

Playing well against Arkin, Falk as Vince lets it all
roll off his back. Bullets in Manhattan? Backwards
chase on the New Jersey turnpike? Firing squad in
South America? 'Take it in stride' is Vince's motto.
If Sheldon could only relax a little, life would be
fine.

Comedies are often judged by their signature lines.
Anyone who has ever seen The In-Laws will remember
"Serpentine! Serpentine!" How about this line of
Vince's as he tries to talk a cab driver into a more
adventurous lifestyle: "Are you interested in joining
the CIA? The benefits are fantastic. The trick is not
to get killed, that's really the key to the benefits
program." These lines were written by Andrew
Bergman. Famous for 'Blazing Saddles', he also wrote
'Fletch' and 'So Fine'.

Senor Pepe is introduced to us by actor Richard Libertini.
Playing South American dictator General Garcia, he is
way over the top in this film. Revealing his dastardly
plot to use mint plates he's buying from Ricardo, he
states, "In 72 Hours the monetary system of the world
will collapse like a wet taco." General Garcia is more
than a few Prozac away from full mental health. But
as he gives us philosophy through his alter ego, Senor
Pepe, you don't care. You're laughing too hard!

Airlines get a bad rap nowadays. Seeing Billy and Bing
Wong's air service will make you grateful for large
carriers you've flown. Giving airplane safety in-
structions in Mandarin isn't an intrinsically funny
idea. Yet somehow, it is hysterical when director
Arthur Hiller gets Billy and Bing in front of the
camera. Hiller, of 'Love Story' fame, gets great
performances from everyone involved.

Laughing is good for the soul. Sometimes, you need to
escape your life and view something improbable for a
short time. It gives you a new perspective. The
entertainment in The In-Laws does just that for me.
No heavy message, no somber rituals, it's just a
barrel full of monkey fun.

Bottom line on this movie is that if you want a few good
clean laughs, give this film a try. Some adult themes
in the South American scenes make this inappropriate
for young children. However, the film is relatively
mild by today's standards. This video remains a
favorite on my personal list as well as our family's
list.