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A service to His little ones (which includes at-home teens) through you, their parents and grandparents, in His name by His Word MAR23054  (2003), PG-13Analysis Date: May 23, 2003 CAP Score: 29 out of 100 CAP Influence Density: 1.27 MinMax: --84 |
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 (2003), PG-13 --Steve Tobias (Michael Douglas) has other plans ... and other plans. Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): Franchise Pictures, Further Films, Gerber Pictures, Glen Films, Warner Bros. Distribution (US): Warner Bros. Director(s): Andrew Fleming Producer(s): David Coatsworth, Bill Gerber, Elie Samaha, Joel Simon, Andrew Stevens, Bill Todman Jr. Written by/Screenplay: Andrew Bergman, Nat Mauldin, Ed Solomon Cinematography/Camera: Alexander Gruszynski Music: Lalo Schifrin Film Editing: Mia Goldman, Heather Persons Casting: Pam Dixon Mickelson, Diane Kerbel Production Design: Andrew McAlpine Art Direction: Dennis Davenport Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6, Granbury, Texas Six people on a beach. That is all Melissa Peyser (Lindsay Sloane) wants for her wedding. But her future father-in-law, Steve Tobias (Michael Douglas) has other plans ... and other plans. Divorced future mother-in-law Judy "the only good thing about [Steve] is his performance in bed" Tobias (Candice Bergen) and Steve wanted a bigger and fancier wedding. Husband-to-be, Mark Tobias (Ryan Reynolds) doesn't care much one way or the other, he just wants to get married. Melissa's dad, Dr. Jerry Peyser (Albert Brooks), a mild-mannered podiatrist, just wants his little girl to have a memorable wedding while mother, Katherine Peyser (Maria Ricossa) is just trying to keep the peace. But peace is not to be found. The second tier of "other plans" of future father-in-law, Steve is service as a CIA operative swinging an arms deal for nuclear fissile material in connection with preventing bad guy French smuggler, Jean-Pierre Thibodoux (David Shef) from getting his hands on a Russian nuclear submarine submerged in Lake Michigan. How a nuclear submarine got into Lake Michigan is not explained. But then logic is not a strong suit of this movie Steve is on the run from everyone: the FBI who say he was a CIA operative who was fired and has gone renegade; the bad guys who are trying to thwart Steve's plans to thwart Thibodoux's plans; others. As the bad guys close in, Steve and his junior associate, Angela Harris (Robin Tunney), who feels she is ready to take charge, enlist the reluctant aid of Dr. Peyser in their spy guy efforts to save the world. Dr. Peyser whines and screams at every turn of the spy games until he becomes somewhat acclimated to his new "volunteer" duties. Dr. Peyser becomes "Fat Snake" with Tobias to act as another smuggler/spy in whom Thibodoux develops sexual interest ... graphically ... and ends up in a hot tub with Peyser who was wearing only thong underwear. And all comes to bear on the wedding day at the hour of the wedding. While a duty-conscious father (Steve) realizes that over the years he has neglected his son in the name of duty, this film is filled with middle school locker room expressions and behaviors, some quite vulgar and obscene [Eph. 5:4]. There are many sexual innuendoes and comments such as "I still hate you, but I do have a room back at the club." [Judy to Steve] and KC & The Sunshine Band singing "Get Down Tonight" with "Do a little dance. Make a little love. Get down tonight." And while Steve occasionally announces his belief in God by calling on Him or giving Him credit, God's name is used in vain often though never with the four letter expletive [Deut. 5:11]. Note also that there are at least two religions represented (plus Eastern meditation) and none includes Jesus. As Christians, we are to spread the Gospel which promises eternal life in Paradise by faith in the Sacrifice of Jesus for our sakes by simply asking forgiveness of our sins believing that Jesus is Lord and resurrected Savior who died that we may have eternal life in Paradise. While many are quite accepting of religions that do not embrace Jesus, I am very reluctant to say anything such as "to each his own" because if we encourage a religion that rejects Jesus are we not encouraging rejection of Him? We are free to worship God as we wish. The Constitution guarantees that. But I love each of your too much to encourage anyone to adopt or continue a faith which rejects Jesus. I will not do so [Rom. 1:16]. For one reason. Rejecting Jesus means eternity in Hell. Period. [Mark 6:16; Acts 4:12] There! I've said it. Chastise me if you wish but I will not situationally redefine, counterfeit or conditionally apply the Word of He who spent three days in Hell so you and I would not have to spend one moment there just so this service will appeal also to they who chose not to believe in Jesus. This is a Christian ministry. CHRISTian. The Dogma doctrines of "It does not matter what you have faith in so long as you have faith" and "No denomination has nailed it yet" are wrong and misleading. Eternally. [Luke 8:12; John 3:17; Acts 16:30- 31] While the plot is noble in cause, additional sexual vulgarities include poor attempts at humor with joking about body parts (and size) and about intercourse, homosexuality and other sexual behaviors [1Ths. 4:2-5, Rom. 1:26 - 27, 1Cor. 6:9-10]. (Again, this is a Christian service. If you do not like what we have to say, don't visit our pages.) Thibodoux energetically tells us homosexuality is disgusting while constantly pursuing a sexual relationship with Dr. Peyser, including a homosexual kiss. Admitted sexual immorality of Mark with the bridesmaid prior to becoming a groom doesn't seem to matter much to the bride (after the initial shock), thus emboldening the popular attitude that sexual purity is a disease rather than a thing of courage and fortitude. Not a good signal at all for the rating's target age stratum where it seems as though it is becoming harder and harder for them to keep their pants on than it is to take them off. Just because the liberals and hedonists of SIECUS tell us it is normal and healthy to sexually experiment as adolescents does not support an 18- year commitment resulting from such experimentation. We all make poor choices form time to time. No exceptions. No debate. But that does not excuse the emboldening of poor choices by presentation of them in and as entertainment. Violence in The In-Laws was heavy. Gunfire murder to the head. Gunfire to kill repeatedly. Kidnapping. Threats with firearms to the head. Assault with the intent to kill or do bodily harm. Beatings. Torturous threat to kill with attempted murder. [Prov. 3:31-32] And the three/four letter word vocabulary was not ignored nor was the most foul of the foul words though only once. [2 Tim. 2:16 - 17, Col. 3:8]. All for the entertainment pleasure of your 13 year old children. There is much more to The In-Laws. Please consider reading the listing n the Findings/Scoring section before you decide whether to let your little ones see this R-13
SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S) If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ]. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page. ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry*** As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie. |
 Wanton Violence/Crime (W) Impudence/Hate (I) Sex/Homosexuality (S) Drugs/Alcohol (D): Offense to God (O) Murder/Suicide (M) |
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| NOTE: While the Summary/Commentary section of these reports is precisely that -- a summary in commentary format which can be and sometimes is subjective, the actual CAP Analysis Model (the Findings/Scoring section) makes no scoring allowances for trumped-up "messages" to excuse, for manufacture of justification for, or camouflaging of ignominious content or aberrant behavior or imagery with "redeeming" programming. Disguising sinful behavior in a theme/plot does not excuse the sinful behavior of either the one who is drawing pleasure or example of behavior or thought from the sinful display or of the practitioners demonstrating the sinful behavior. We make no attempt to quantify the "artistic" or "entertainment" value of a movie -- whether a movie has any positive value or "entertainment" value is up to mom/dad. The CAP analysis model is the only known set of tools available to parents and grandparents which give *them* the control they need, bypassing the opinion-based assessment of movies by others and defeating the deceit of those who would say anything to convince their parents otherwise. The model is completely objective to His Word. Our investigation standards are founded in the teachings and expectations of Jesus Christ. If a sinful behavior is portrayed, it is called sinful whether Hollywood tries to make it otherwise. That the sinful behavior is "justified" by some manufactured conditions does not soften nor erase the price of sin. Whether there is application of fantasy "justification" or "redemption" is up to mom/dad. |
| "There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our more than eight years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings. |
