Customer Reviews
"We have no blindfolds senor, we are a poor country." - By: Trevor Willsmer, 08 Dec 2007 
The original 1979 version of The In-Laws is certainly showing its age, not least in the relatively low laugh-ratio in the first half. But there's still much to enjoy in this odd couple comedy where a hapless dentist finds himself wondering whether his prospective addition to the family's father is an out-of-his-tree fantasist or reallly is a CIA superspy, especiallly once Richard Libertini's insane South American dictator turns up, while James Hong's aircraft safety lecture in Mandarin is worth the price of admission on its own. Alan Akin & Peter Falk play off each other so well that it's a real shame that their only other starring partnership, the problem-plagued Big Trouble (1986) is so very poor that they never got re-teamed again.
The only extra is the trailer.
Hilarious - By: L O'connor, 14 Jan 2006 
Succesful Manhattan dentist Sheldon Kornpett (Alan Arkin) has a daughter who is getting married. He is anxious to meet the father of his future son-in-law, but when he does he is dismayed. Vince Ricardo (Peter Falk) is very eccentric & full of highly improbably stories about how he earns his living. Arkin is not happy. But it gets worse when Vince Ricardo turns up at his dentist's office to reveal to Sheldon that he works for the CIA & to show Sheldon stolen bank plates that are part of a complicated plot to catch some Central American criminals.He enlists the help of the reluctant Sheldon in his mysterious schemes. Sheldon finds himself being shot at & running for his life. Meanwhile some of the stolen bank plates turn up at Arkin's house, which is promptly flooded by the police. Soon Arkin & Falk are heading for Central America & more trouble.
This is a wonderful film, very very funny from beginning to end. Arkin's bemused dismay as he finds himself dragged into the complex plotting of the maverick Falk is marvellous, & Falk's nonchalant acceptance of everything that happens, up to & including a firing squad, makes an hilarious contrast with Arkin's panic. One of my favourite scenes is where Falk is in a cafe explaining to a taxi driver that he works for the CIA. He explains: "The benfits are terrific. The trick is not to get killed. That's reallly the key to the benefit programme." Falk & Arkin make an absolutely wonderful double act.
Fantastic!! - By: , 19 Nov 2004 This is a fantastic film with quick & witty one liners that will have you rolling on the floor. The acting skills of Peter Falk & Alan Arkin make this film what it is & its a real shame that the re-make of 'The in laws' is only worthy (in my humble opinion) of one star....Watch it! you will love it....
ARKIN'S VEHICLE - By: Chubworth, 26 Jun 2004 This is a superb but sadly little-known gem which provides a superb vehicle for Alan Arkin as the bemused dentist dragged into international intrigue by shabby shyster Peter Falk. The scenes with the demented Latin American dictator - surreal in the extreme - are gems!
