Search - It Runs in the Family on DVD


It Runs in the Family
It Runs in the Family
Actors: Michael Douglas, Kirk Douglas, Rory Culkin, Cameron Douglas, Diana Douglas
Genres: Comedy, Drama
PG-13     2003     1hr 49min

THIS IS THE STORY OF A DYSFUNCTIONAL NEW YORK FAMILY, AND THEIR ATTEMPTS TO RECONCILE.
     
     

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Movie Details

Actors: Michael Douglas, Kirk Douglas, Rory Culkin, Cameron Douglas, Diana Douglas
Genres: Comedy, Drama
Sub-Genres: Comedy, Drama
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Format: DVD - Color,Widescreen,Anamorphic - Closed-captioned,Dubbed,Subtitled
DVD Release Date: 10/21/2003
Original Release Date: 04/25/2003
Theatrical Release Date: 04/25/2003
Release Year: 2003
Run Time: 1hr 49min
Screens: Color,Widescreen,Anamorphic
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Total Copies: 13
Members Wishing: 0
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Languages: English, French, Spanish, French, Spanish
Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
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Member Movie Reviews

Susan H. from ELMER, NJ
Reviewed on 5/8/2010...
good flick
1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Beth P. (dvdswapee)
Reviewed on 1/15/2009...
My husband and I turned this one off after ten minutes. Too much foul language.
9 of 17 member(s) found this review helpful.

Movie Reviews

Drivel
Larry VanDeSande | Mason, Michigan United States | 03/07/2005
(2 out of 5 stars)

"Have you ever wondered why high-priced, high roller and powerful actors take on roles in bad movies? That's the question you'll ask yourself if you watch this drivel.

Perhaps the answer is three generations of Douglases -- Kirk, Michael and Cameron -- appear in "It Runs in the Family". The two older Douglases play Jewish (Gromberg) lawyers (Kirk a retired former partner now overcoming a stroke) while son Asher (Cameron) is a slacker attending college. The cast includes Bernadette Peters as Michael's wife and Rory Culkin and their younger son.

My onscreen guide said the movie was taken from a short story by the guy that wrote "Christmas Story" and was supposed to be a followup on that success based on memories of the pre-teen son, which would be Culkin. Whomever wrote that never saw this movie!

This script was apparently about family dysfunction, since the dad wants to do the nasty with a woman he knows from a soup kitchen, the college boy can't keep his pants on and ends up in trouble with the cops over drugs, and the younger son also has a romantic entanglement with a skag he knows from school. The old man's wife dies, too, pushing him into Michael's disheveled household.

This sounds formulaic except the formula doesn't work. Instead of being drawn into the lives of these losers, you laugh at the silly predicaments created for them by the awkward script. There is hardly a moment in the entire film that represents anything remotely close to real family life. Every moment seems to be taken over by one calamity or another, usually of the male Douglases creation.

For me, this was a memorable film in a negative way. If Michael Douglas made $20 million for this movie, the people that bankrolled this turkey should ask for a 95 percent refund. For, in addition to the movie being a loser, Michael Douglas is badly out of shape in it with a big gut that sticks out. So much for the beautiful people, eh?

Unless you are a Douglas film completist or totally dedicated to seeing something starring a bunch of family members, steer clear of this bomb. It is funny, agreed, but not in positive ways."
Watch it, you might as well...
K. Aspelund | New York, New York United States | 01/08/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)

""It runs in the family" is a good movie, not a great movie, but a good movie. It traces the love lives of 3 generations of one family through four different story lines. From grand parents, to Parents, to two Grandchildren. The movie drags at times, and the storyline is full of holes. The problem with the movie is that they chose to cut away from the relationships of each pair in the movie and go with something a little too off beat (for example: Mike douglas' pro bono case at his firm), that really did nothing for the over-all story. The best scenes of the movie come from the parts with Kirk Douglas and his amazingly beautiful (ex-real-life) wife Diane. And the scenes between Mike Douglas and Bernadette Peters. We all know most of the other actors abilities, but I think Diane deserves special honors...she was terrific...and Bernadette Peters, whom I feel is one of the most underrated actresses we have, and i hope we see more of her on screen, she is absolutely breathtaking. But, unfortunately, these are the only good points about hte movie...almost all the scenes with the younger generations are pretty bad...i dont know who did research for the script, but I'm not sure if college life was acurately portrayed. Plus, the performances were bad with the younger generations...except for Rory culkin...he was all right. So, the point is, it is a movie that tries to be "Terms of Endearment", it just has lots of meaningless and pointless scenes, and introduces odd characters (like Malik). Look for the very nice scene towards the beginnning of the movie when the family shares in passover...It feels very impromptu and has some great moments from all actors. Also the scene where Mike Douglas and Bernadette Peters exchange anniversary gifts. I love Bernadette Peters."
Good cast/mediocre movie
Karen Potts | Lake Jackson, Texas | 10/27/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)

"With Kirk and Michael Douglas leading the cast in a movie, it should have turned out much better than it did. They star as two of three generations of highly unlikeable men who are self-centered, self-indulgent and critical of everyone else. The best scenes do occur between father and son, but there are not enough of them to raise the level of this movie to more than just average. Their long-suffering wives are played by
Bernadette Peters and Kirk's real ex-wife, and are the only likeable ones in the picture. It's too bad that the Douglas talents are not used to better advantage, but they are limited by a weak script that cannot be propped up by acting talent. Better luck next time!"