neumu [ cinematronic ]




	It Runs In The Family
	Fred Schepisi Michael Douglas, Kirk Douglas, Cameron Douglas, Diana Douglas, Bernadette Peters, Rory Culkin, Sarita Choudhury 2003		It's sweet that members of the real-life Douglas acting dynasty — father Kirk, son Michael, grandson Cameron and even Kirk's ex-wife Diana — chose to co-star in a feature film. Too bad that all of the charm and good will initially generated by this show of togetherness is wasted by "It Runs in the Family," the overly schmaltzy dramedy they decided to do. Although directed by the usually proficient Fred Schepisi ("Last Orders"), it skitters, then totters, then trundles along to its soppy conclusion. Alex Gromberg (Michael Douglas) seems like a decent man. He's a successful lawyer at the firm his father (Kirk Douglas) founded, but Alex has always lived in the old man's shadow. Meanwhile, Alex's son (Cameron Douglas) is a slacker who cares more about chasing women, spinning records as a DJ and selling weed than grappling with his college courses. Alex and his wife (Bernadette Peters) also have to cope with the quirks and insecurities of their youngest son (Rory Culkin). All of which makes Alex think that he's repeating his father's faults as a parent. With a slate of medical problems, marital infidelity, and inevitable reconciliations, "It Runs in the Family" runs into the ground.