It Runs in the Family is a 2003 comedy-drama movie directed by Fred Schepisi and starring three generations of the Douglas family: Kirk Douglas, his son Michael Douglas, and Michael's son Cameron Douglas, who play three generations of a family. Diana Douglas (née Dill), real-life mother to Michael Douglas and ex-wife of Kirk, plays Kirk's character's wife. The film was a co-production with MGM and Buena Vista International.
It Runs in the Family | |
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Directed by | Fred Schepisi |
Produced by | Michael Douglas Marcy Drogin Jesse Wigutow |
Written by | Jesse Wigutow |
Starring | Michael Douglas Kirk Douglas Cameron Douglas Diana Douglas Rory Culkin Bernadette Peters |
Music by | Moose Charlap Paul Grabowsky Charles F. Sweeney Jr. |
Cinematography | Ian Baker |
Edited by | Kate Williams |
Production company | Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer Buena Vista International |
Distributed by | MGM Distribution Co. (United States) Buena Vista International (Internationally) |
Release date |
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Running time | 109 min. |
Country | United States |
Language | English Hebrew Spanish |
Box office | $8.2 million |
Screenplay
The story involves the highly successful New York City Gromberg family. Each member has their own set of problems. The father-son relationship difficulties is highlighted. Mitchell Gromberg is dealing with health problems resulting from a stroke. His son Alex works as a lawyer in the firm that his father founded, but he questions the usefulness of his work and his place in the family. Alex's son, Asher, does not take college seriously and seems lost. The youngest son is 11 year old Eli, who is extremely intelligent, while being socially awkward and is entering a difficult pre-adolescent time.
Alex indulges in a thoughtless and careless brief romantic fling with Suzie at the soup kitchen where they volunteer. Psychologist wife Rebecca discovers panties and it threatens their marriage. When Evelyn Gromberg, Mitchell's wife and Alex's mother dies, the family comes together to heal. At Evelyn's funeral in suburban New York, Rebecca tells Alex that she knows about his romantic fling. Alex, Mitchell and Asher go fishing to talk about old wounds but nothing gets resolved.
At college Asher is discovered with illegal drugs. Although devastated, Rebecca and Mitchell are supportive parents and vow to get help for Asher. He wants his girlfriend Peg protected. Alex's older brother Stephen dies. He and Mitchell give him a fire send-off and farewell. Back at home Mitchell is forced to sleep on the living room couch but Rebecca agrees to reconciliation terms.
- Michael Douglas as Alex Gromberg
- Kirk Douglas as Mitchell Gromberg
- Rory Culkin as Eli Gromberg
- Cameron Douglas as Asher Gromberg
- Diana Dill aka Diana Douglas as Evelyn Gromberg
- Bernadette Peters as Rebecca Gromberg
- Michelle Monaghan as Peg Maloney
- Geoffrey Arend as Malik
- Sarita Choudhury as Suzie
- Irene Gorovaia as Abby Staley
- Annie Golden as Deb
- Mark Hammer as Stephen Gromberg
- Audra McDonald as Sarah Langley
- Josh Pais as Barney
- Louie Torrellas as Jeremy
- Adrian Martinez as Mitchell's Doorman
In his role as producer, Michael Douglas suggested his mother (Diana Dill), Rory Culkin, and Bernadette Peters for their roles. Fred Schepisi noted that they were originally considering Sigourney Weaver for the part of Michael's wife. "Bernadette was a really nice balance, playing straighter than you’d usually see her play..."
Total gross was $7,491,839. In comparison, Michael Douglas' next movie, The In-Laws, grossed $20,453,431.
Critic Steven Holden wrote in The New York Times that the movie is a "surprisingly complex and subtle portrait", and "Besides its laudable reluctance to tie up loose ends, the most courageous thing about It Runs in the Family is its refusal to try to make you love its aggressive, strong-willed characters."
Most reviews, as tallied by Rotten Tomatoes, were unfavorable or mixed; the movie has a "Rotten" rating of 28%, with the site's consensus stating "Despite its gimmick casting, the movie ultimately goes nowhere." Roger Ebert wrote: "But the movie is simply not clear about where it wants to go and what it wants to do. It is heavy on episode and light on insight, and although it takes courage to bring up touchy topics it would have taken more to treat them frankly."
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