FOT Forum

FOT Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: Matthew_S on August 12, 2008, 03:35:51 PM

Title: FOT Canon - Nominee #2 - The In-Laws (the 1979 original)
Post by: Matthew_S on August 12, 2008, 03:35:51 PM
The 2nd nominee for the FOT canon -- the 1979 movie, The In-Laws.  Starring Alan Arkin and Peter Falk, the movie has the wonderful tagline, "The FIRST certified Crazy Person's Comedy."

What are your thoughts?

Imdb says that Premiere voted this movie as one of "The 50 Greatest Comedies Of All Time" in 2006 -- is it worthy of induction into the FOT canon?


Thanks to Bryan for the suggestion!

__________________

Nominee #1 - Freaks and Geeks -- INDUCTED. 
http://www.friendsoftom.com/forum/index.php/topic,3839.0.html
Title: Re: FOT Canon - Nominee #2 - The In-Laws (the 1979 original)
Post by: Bryan on August 12, 2008, 03:53:48 PM
I don't expect this one to be as overwhelmingly unanimous as F&G, but I do think it deserves a place in the canon. If any of the FOT haven't seen it, please do! It knocked my socks off.
Title: Re: FOT Canon - Nominee #2 - The In-Laws (the 1979 original)
Post by: Spoony on August 12, 2008, 03:55:56 PM
"Don't pigs squeel like that when they die?"

"The pig is alive, Shel."
Title: Re: FOT Canon - Nominee #2 - The In-Laws (the 1979 original)
Post by: jbissell on August 12, 2008, 04:12:56 PM
Guess I should bump it up my Netflix queue.
Title: Re: FOT Canon - Nominee #2 - The In-Laws (the 1979 original)
Post by: Fido on August 12, 2008, 05:01:13 PM
Big fan of the Peter Falk/Alan Arkin In-Laws. I've seen it I don't know how many times, and get a laugh out of it every time. If it were on TV now, I'd probably be tempted.

Don't bother with the remake.

Serpentine, Shelly, serpentine!
Title: Re: FOT Canon - Nominee #2 - The In-Laws (the 1979 original)
Post by: Spoony on August 12, 2008, 07:39:06 PM
There were only a couple things that would send my Dad into hysterics, and The In-Laws were one of them. It has a couple "slide-whistle comedy" moments, but it still holds up as hilarious.

On a rainy day, watch it with the commentary on. Alan Arkin and Peter Falk are a little ramble-y but it's great to hear two pro's who are in love with their craft.
Title: Re: FOT Canon - Nominee #2 - The In-Laws (the 1979 original)
Post by: jbissell on August 12, 2008, 07:44:43 PM
I think the Never Saw It/Meh options should be separated.
Title: Re: FOT Canon - Nominee #2 - The In-Laws (the 1979 original)
Post by: Matthew_S on August 13, 2008, 10:11:06 AM
I think the Never Saw It/Meh options should be separated.

Fair point.  I revised and reset the poll (so please vote again).  Initially I provided more options to encourage voting but I realize now (thanks!) that in the end it made little sense.

Title: Re: FOT Canon - Nominee #2 - The In-Laws (the 1979 original)
Post by: JonFromMaplewood on August 13, 2008, 03:00:06 PM
Loved it as a kid. But I watched it recently, and it felt really, really dated.  I hardly laughed.

Sorry.

Title: Re: FOT Canon - Nominee #2 - The In-Laws (the 1979 original)
Post by: Spoony on August 13, 2008, 04:56:20 PM
Even the black velvet paintings? C'mon!

Speaking of which, something I haven't seen since moving to NYC are the dudes hanging out in empty parking lots, selling 30 giant black velvet paintings. Where did they go? Is black velvet a dead art form?
Title: Re: FOT Canon - Nominee #2 - The In-Laws (the 1979 original)
Post by: Matthew_S on August 15, 2008, 10:44:17 AM
Even the black velvet paintings? C'mon!

Speaking of which, something I haven't seen since moving to NYC are the dudes hanging out in empty parking lots, selling 30 giant black velvet paintings. Where did they go? Is black velvet a dead art form?

Maybe Ken/WFMU bought them all up?
Title: Re: FOT Canon - Nominee #2 - The In-Laws (the 1979 original)
Post by: dave from knoxville on August 15, 2008, 04:06:07 PM
Big fan of the Peter Falk/Alan Arkin In-Laws. I've seen it I don't know how many times, and get a laugh out of it every time. If it were on TV now, I'd probably be tempted.

Don't bother with the remake.

Serpentine, Shelly, serpentine!

I think that I mentioned to Tom once on air, although it might just be one of those things I meant to do, that there was a local band here in the early 80's called "Serpentine Shell", and the drummer had a picture of a tse-tse fly holding a blanket bindle in its mouth.
Title: Re: FOT Canon - Nominee #2 - The In-Laws (the 1979 original)
Post by: masterofsparks on August 15, 2008, 04:30:21 PM
I guess the fact that "Never saw it" is leading the voting means it probably shouldn't be included.
Title: Re: FOT Canon - Nominee #2 - The In-Laws (the 1979 original)
Post by: Bryan on August 15, 2008, 06:04:38 PM
I guess the fact that "Never saw it" is leading the voting means it probably shouldn't be included.

Yep. That's probably true.

But all you "Never Saw It"s will be kicking yourselves when you finally get around to it!
Title: Re: FOT Canon - Nominee #2 - The In-Laws (the 1979 original)
Post by: Matthew_S on August 19, 2008, 10:11:09 PM
I guess the fact that "Never saw it" is leading the voting means it probably shouldn't be included.

I agree.  And this poll closes soon.

New suggestions welcome.  *or tell me to quit it!*
Title: Re: FOT Canon - Nominee #2 - The In-Laws (the 1979 original)
Post by: Gilly on August 19, 2008, 10:18:26 PM
Don't quit, this is fun.