Douglas keeps everything sweet with The In-laws

The In-Laws stars Michael Douglas as CIA agent Steve Tobias who is on a mission to try and stop an arms dealer from buying a virtually undetectable submarine for $170m.

When he’s not chasing bad guys, Steve spends his time failing dismally to be a father to his son Mark, who is about to get married to Melissa.

Steve is determined to be more involved in his son’s life, and his wedding.

Like most of his fatherly attempts, however, this goes badly wrong when he goes to visit the in-laws, the Peysers.

The FBI are hot on Steve’s tail and they mistake Melissa’s father, neurotic podiatrist Jerry Peyser (Albert Brooks), for an international villain.

Nothing could be further from the truth. This is the kind of guy who would get a nose bleed changing pens.

While all this is going on the wedding of their respective offspring is heading for the rocks and the two unlikely allies are left to save the day, and the world.

Michael Douglas does his best to bring some believability to his unlikely character, while Albert Brooks seems tailor-made for his role as the neurotic foot doctor.

The two leads help to keep things on track, but only just.

Comedy, 12. 2/5