Titre français : Ne tirez pas sur le dentiste

Titre original : The In-Laws

Réalisation : Arthur Hiller

Photographie : David M. Walsh

Scénario : Andrew Linklater

Montage : Robert Swink

Musique : John Morris

Producteur : Arthur Hiller, William Sackheim

Société de production et de distribution : Warner Bros

Pays :  États-Unis

Langue : Anglais

Format : Couleur - Dolby Digital - DTS

- 35 mm - 2.85:1

Genre : Comédie

Durée : 103 min

Public : Tous Public

Peter Falk : Vincent Ricardo

Alan Arkin  : Sheldon Kornpett

Richard Libertini  : Général Garcia

Nancy Dussault : Carol Kornpett

Penny Peyser : Barbara Kornpett

Arlene Golonka : Jean Ricardo

Michael Lembeck : Tommy Ricardo

Paul L. Smith   : Mo

James Hong : Bing Wong

Carmine Caridi : Angie

Ed Begley Jr. : Barry Lutz

Sammy Smith : Mr. Hirschorn

Dentist Sheldon Kornpett (Alan Arkin) is a respectable man. He has a daughter who is about to marry the son of a very suspicious character,Vince Ricardo (Peter Falk). They are practically relatives already, the wedding is so near. Certainly, Sheldon already despises Vince as if he were already a well-known relative. 

 

Nontheless, Vince calls on Sheldon and convinces him to go with him on a series of wild and hilarious adventures, claiming all the while that he is a CIA agent, and that what he is doing is in the national interest. Sheldon follows Vince to a South American country ruled by a very odd man, General Garcia (Richard Libertini), who talks to his hand (which talks back). It seems that the dictator is involved in a scheme to counterfeit and undermine U.S. currency.

 

 

This is truly one of the most under-appreciated comedies of all time. Peter Falk and Alan Arkin are magnificent. It was shamed by the abhorrent re-make/re-visit of 2003. Don't judge this original by that pathetic after birth. Two scenes stand out as 'need to see.' The first meeting between Falk and Arkin and the subsequent dinner has many a classic line, 'Beaks? The flies had beaks?' and 'There's tremendous red-tape in the bush.' The landing in Tihara and the car chase that follows including the famous 'Serpentine!' sequence makes me laugh out loud with every viewing.