Relative Strangers (2006)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Greg Glienna

Writers (WGA):

Greg Glienna (screenplay) &
Peter Stass (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

May 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

You can't pick your parents.

Plot:

On a mission to locate his biological parents, a tightly wound professional (Livingston) is befuddled to find that the couple who conceived him aren't exactly upper-class. |

Plot Keywords:

Adoption | Football | Reference To 12 Step Program | Parent Child Relationship | Shower

Cast

Danny DeVito	...	Frank Menure
Kathy Bates	...	Agnes Menure
Ron Livingston	...	Dr. Richard Clayton
Neve Campbell	...	Ellen Minnola
Beverly D'Angelo	...	Angela Minnola
Bob Odenkirk	...	Mitch Clayton
Edward Herrmann	...	Doug Clayton
Christine Baranski	...	Arleen Clayton
Martin Mull	...	Jeffry Morton
Michael McKean	...	Ken Hyman
M.C. Gainey	...	Spicer
Star Jones	...	Holly Davis
Ed Begley Jr.	...	Mr. Manoire
Debbi Morgan	...	Mrs. Manoire
Pete Schwaba	...	Meat Delivery Man

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sex-related humor and language.

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:AL

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Garlin Pictures

Trivia:

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger greeted his Twins (1988/I) costar Danny DeVito on a location set to congratulate him on his efforts to produce the film in California, rather than succumb to the tax lures and lower labor costs offered by other states. DeVito acknowledged that he had to persuade the film's cast and crew to take pay cuts in order to offset the lower production costs that other states offered. They're "working for much less than they normally work for".

Goofs:

Continuity: When Frank And Agnes are sunbathing in the yard, in the first shot Frank is barefoot. In the next shot, he has his sandals on with no time in between to have put them on.

Quotes:

Agnes Menure: He tried a twelve step program but he got so drunk he fell down the steps!

Movie Connections:

References American Gigolo (1980)

Soundtrack:

Concerto in B Flat

Meet the parents

Imagine the cruelty of adoptive parents to tell an unsuspecting son that he is adopted? To make matters worse, the Claytons, a rich couple, have waited a long time to spring the news to Richard, who is about to get married! This is the premise for this comedy created by Greg Glienna, who also contributed to its screen play. The film, which went directly to video, never had a chance to make it commercially, in spite of the prominent figures in the cast. In fact, the film seems to this viewer as a variation of the more successful "Meet the Parents", which employed Mr. Glienna as a writer. Not that this film is horrible, by any means, but it appears the powers that be must have had doubts about its impact and sent it to the DVD limbo.

Ron Livingston, who is seen as Richard, the man who is told he has been living a lie, is quite good and shows a flair for comedy. Neve Campbell is also effective in playing the object of Richard's love. The combination of the vulgar Meneres as played broadly by Danny Devito and Kathy Bates have some good moments. Christine Baranski and Edward Herrmann play the Claytons, the uptight adoptive parents. The one that is hardly recognizable is Beverly D'Angelo, who must have gone through a procedure to change the way we remembered her.