Rating: PG13
Genre:
Comedy Drama
Release Date: 10/21/2003
SubTitles: English/French/Espanol
Dubbed: English/French/Espanol
Sound: DD2/DD5.1
Run Time: 109 Minutes
Distributor/Studio: MGM
A family takes on the difficult task of learning how to get along with one another in this emotional
comedy drama.
Alex Gromberg (
Michael Douglas) is a middle-aged man who feels caught in the middle of his familial obligations as he muddles he way through a midlife crisis. While a successful businessman,
Alex sometimes still feels as if he's under the shadow of his father,
Mitchell Gromberg (
Kirk Douglas), a successful attorney whose skills in the courtroom outstripped his gifts as a parent. Elderly
Mitchell has recently survived a stroke, and
Alex and
Mitchell want to mend their relationship while there's still time, but making it so proves difficult, even with
Alex getting advice from his wife, psychologist
Rebecca (
Bernadette Peters), and
Mitchell being prodded by his long-suffering wife,
Evelyn (
Diana Douglas).
Alex is also trying to reach out to his two sons, who are as different as night and day; college student
Asher (
Cameron Douglas) is an aspiring club DJ who seems to be styling himself to bear no resemblance to his father, while 11-year-old
Eli (
Rory Culkin) is an overly serious lad who is having trouble navigating the first steps of adolescence.
It Runs in the Family marked the first time
Kirk Douglas acted in a film with his son
Michael Douglas; adding to the family atmosphere was
Michael's son
Cameron Douglas, working with his family for the first time, and
Diana Douglas,
Kirk's former wife and
Michael's mother.
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide