It Runs in the Family (2003 film)

Infobox Film
name = It Runs in the Family

---

caption =
director = Fred Schepisi
producer = Michael Douglas
Marcy Drogin
Jesse Wigutow
- Associate Producer -
Joel Douglas
- Executive Producer -
Kerry Orent
Fred Schepisi
writer = Jesse Wigutow
starring = Michael Douglas
Kirk Douglas
Cameron Douglas
Diana Douglas
Rory Culkin
and
Bernadette Peters
music = Moose Charlap
Paul Grabowsky
Charles F. Sweeney Jr.
cinematography = Ian Baker
editing = Kate Williams
distributor = - USA -
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- non-USA -
Buena Vista International
released = April 25, 2003
runtime = 109 min.
country = USA
awards =
language = English / Hebrew / Spanish
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0311110

"It Runs in the Family" is a 2003 comedy-drama movie directed by Fred Schepisi and starring several generations of the Kirk Douglas family. Kirk, his son Michael, and Michael's son Cameron play three generations of a family — as in real life.

Plot

The story involves three generations of a highly successful New York City family, each with his set of problems, and highlights the difficulties of the father-son relationship. Mitchell Gromberg (Kirk Douglas) is trying to deal with health problems resulting from a stroke (Kirk Douglas suffered a stroke in 1996). His son, Alex (Michael Douglas), works as a lawyer in the firm that his father founded, but is questioning the usefulness of his work and his place in the family. Alex's son, Asher (Cameron Douglas) does not take college seriously and seems lost. The youngest son Eli (Rory Culkin), while extremely intelligent, is entering a difficult pre-adolescent time, while being socially awkward. Diana Dill, Michael Douglas' real-life mother and now real life ex-wife of Kirk Douglas, plays the wife of Kirk Douglas.

When Alex indulges in a thoughtless and careless brief romantic fling and his psychologist wife (Bernadette Peters) discovers it, his marriage is threatened. When Asher is discovered with illegal drugs, he starts to understand that he is on the wrong path. But major life crises, although devastating, bring the family together in a familial show of support, respect, and love.

Cast

*Michael Douglas .... Alex Gromberg
*Kirk Douglas .... Mitchell Gromberg
*Rory Culkin .... Eli Gromberg
*Cameron Douglas .... Asher Gromberg
*Diana Dill .... Evelyn Gromberg
*Michelle Monaghan .... Peg Maloney
*Geoffrey Arend .... Malik
*Sarita Choudhury .... Suzie
*Irene Gorovaia .... Abby Staley
*Annie Golden .... Deb
*Mark Hammer .... Stephen Gromberg
*Audra McDonald .... Sarah Langley
*Josh Pais .... Barney
*Bernadette Peters .... Rebecca Gromberg

Production

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 [Peters] was a really nice balance, playing straighter than you’d usually see her play..." (http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/home/view.asp?a=7755&s=Interviews August 23, 2003)

Total gross was $7,491,839. In comparison, Michael Douglas' next movie, ("The In-Laws)", grossed $20,453,431. (boxofficemojo.com)

Responses

Critic Steven Holden wrote 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." ("New York Times", April 25, 2003.)

Most reviews, as tallied by rottentomatoes.com, were unfavorable or mixed. 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."("Chicago Sun-Times", April 25, 2003)

External links

*imdb title|id=0311110|title=It Runs in the Family
* [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/it_runs_in_the_family/ "It Runs in the Family" entry] from Rotten Tomatoes
* [http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/home/view.asp?a=7755&s=Interviews Interview with Fred Schepisi] August 21 2003