Carla Gugino in Son in Law (1993)

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Review

Son In Law is yet another attempt at your prototypical “Fish-Out-of-Water” story again featuring the pretty much talentless Pauly Shore as the proverbial Pisces in an unfamiliar situation, which just-so-happens to be a farm in South Dakota. Manure jokes ensue…

Is it just me, or is Shore always in an uncomfortable situation?

In any case, the movie mostly centers on Shore’s antics whilst a subplot involving Carla Gugino and her ex-boyfriend, who wants to marry her in spite of her semi-permanent Los Angeles living situation. This prompts Carla to take Shore (Who is her resident advisor…) home with her in an attempt to fool the family into thinking they are engaged, or something to that effect. In case you haven’t figured it all out, in the end, Shore and Gugino actually fall in love and live happily ever after.

The movie could have been a load better. Here are a few tips for director Steve Rash:

1. Gugino was certainly sexy in her beachside bathing suit scenes but wouldn’t it have been a lot better if there wasn’t a bathing suit to deal with at all? We think so…

2. Tiffani-Amber Thiessen would also have benefited from some on-screen Skin action…

3. Don’t ever cast Pauly Shore in a movie ever again. Ever. We mean it.

Still the movie holds out as a silly, guilty pleasure for those who appreciate barnyard humor, shit jokes and Pauly’s one-trick-pony act. We wouldn’t give it more than a D, though, if for no other reason than it was rated PG-13 and contained absolutely no nudity. Boo.

Nudity Report: None. Eat shit and die, Rash.

Critics’ Vote: Ebert has it at two stars, Berardinelli gave it one. We agree.

IMDb Summary: 4.9/10.

Box Office: As further proof that there is no God, this crapper of a flick made $36.45 million…

DVD Info: Standard crap, nothing special. Even a pristine transfer couldn’t have saved this movie…


Written by: Vance Moravian