Relative Strangers (2006)

So much average

Fantastic!

Absolutely the worst movie.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Dr. Richard Clayton (Ron Livingston) seems to be living the perfect life. He is a successful psychologist-turned-writer and his latest book on anger management is doing well. In addition, he is engaged to a beautiful, kind lady, Ellen (Neve Campbell) and they share a lovely home. But one day his disgruntled, slacker brother drops the A-bomb, that is, he informs his bro that he, Richard, is the adopted sibling of the family. Richie's snobby parents (Edward Hermann and Christine Baranski) concede that it is true but that it made no difference in their love for him or his brother. Yet, Richard is stunned and suddenly curious. At Ellen's urging, he begins a search for his birth parents. Soon after, Frank (Danny DeVito) and Agnes Menure (Kathy Bates) arrive on the doc's doorstep and announce that they are his true father and mother. It is a shock, as the Menures are ex-carnies, live in a trailer park, and sell pest control products to support themselves. And, while they are lively, interesting folks, Frank and Agnes are definitely a bit uncouth as it were. Richard is forelorn and his unhappiness grows each day the Menures extend their visit to Richie's home. Can they all really belong to the same gene pool? This is a funny film, distinctively enhanced by the terrific cast. Livingston is just right as the confused, disgruntled doctor while Campbell is lovely and sweet as the supportive fiancé. As for DeVito and Bates, they chew up the screen with their humorous, outrageous turns as the far-from-refined folks who, nevertheless, may have bigger hearts than most. All of the niceties of film-making, from costumes to sets to camera work, are first rate, too. If you are looking for mirth on an upcoming film night, give this one a whirl. It is definitely no stranger to comedy, as a viewing will result in big smiles for everyone.

This really isn't a bad film. I was surprised to find it on Comedy Central this afternoon, having never heard of it, and being a fan of most of the actors. Perhaps it would have flopped at the box office, and that's OK, so did Office Space.Sure the plot is not mind-blowing, but it is original. The anger management doctor loses it after meeting his biological parents, OK, maybe the obvious irony is overdone in this genre. However, the details and production of this film are what set it apart. Also, as dry as Livingston many be, that is his charm. Each of the players had excellent performances. Frankly, I thought DeVito's overperfomance was the real weak point.Did Matthew Perry make a cameo in this, as a newscaster? Will I buy the DVD? Probably not, but I will watch it again on a Saturday afternoon.

Well, the originality wasn't there but it had some pretty funny moments. They're not laugh gut busting moments but the chuckles are constant. Bates and DeVito were good together and the rest of the cast were well casted. But why does this movie get old after about 40 minutes? It than turned into another typical comedy and the ending is pretty much predicted.All in all this is a decent direct to video comedy that still has better written jokes than most of the comedies out there right now. But than again, only two or three comedies stand out every year. For me it was Little Miss Sunshine and Crank.Give it a try.

Maybe it's somehow unfair that this movie was not distributed in the US (yet?). I have seen much worse movies and comedies that had less fun in them well distributed and promoted. However, I can understand the hesitations of the distributors. 'Relative Strangers' plays in a genre that has already squeezed all the juice, and makes no attempt to be something different.Yet, the premises are good. What if you are a successful writer of self-control books and you found two weeks before your marriage with gorgeous Neve Campbell that your true parents are not the high-class couple that raised you but Danny DeVitto and Kathy Bates, a popular circus pair of failed clowns, throwing bad jokes and inheriting you nothing but a bunch of hereditary diseases? Unfortunately, this is more or less where the fun of the movie stops. The rest is so predictable that you could have written the script yourself. Ron Linvingston is as funny as a evening news broadcaster, DeVitto and Campbell do their expected game, and only Kathy Bates is funny and looks comfortable and gorgeous (yes!) in her role, but this is not enough. Casting the stars is not enough for good comedy, you need something more in ideas and craziness which is definitely missing here.