It Runs in the Family (2003)
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28% of critics liked it
(97 reviews) -
31% of users liked it
(5,728 ratings)
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… More 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, Rovi
- Directed By
- Fred Schepisi
- Written By
- Jesse Wigutow
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
PG-13,
- In Theaters
- Apr 25, 2003 Wide
- Studio
- MGM/UA
Critic Reviews
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Rex Reed, New York Observer
A funny, articulate, imperfect, sometimes messy, often infuriatingly sentimental, but always caring and spirited movie.
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Ed Park, Village Voice
Goes easy on the schmaltz, and the catastrophes have the puncturing feel of real life.
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Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
A lot of things, we see coming about three scenes in advance ... But, the three generations of Douglas' in particular, that's why I'm recommending this film.
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Claudia Puig, USA Today
Worthwhile, though the story is predictable.
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Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
Acting together for the first time, Kirk and Michael Douglas have some powerful scenes together, which only makes you wish the entire project had tilted more towards Eugene O'Neill than Neil Simon.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Michael Douglas
as Alex Gromberg
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Kirk Douglas
as Mitchell Gromberg
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Rory Culkin
as Eli Gromberg
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Cameron Douglas
as Asher Gromberg
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Diana Douglas
as Evelyn Gromberg
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Bernadette Peters
as Rebecca Gromberg
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Michelle Monaghan
as Peg Maloney
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Geoffrey Arend
as Malik
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Sarita Choudhury
as Suzie
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Irene Gorovaia
as Abby Staley
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Annie Golden
as Deb
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Mark Hammer
as Stephen Gromberg
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Audra McDonald
as Sarah Langley
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Cameron Boyd
as Skateboarder
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Ian Boyd
as Skateboarder
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Roy Milton Davis
as Homeless Man
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Carmen Lopez
as Rosario
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Adrian Martinez
as Mitchell's Doorman
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Josh Pais
as Barney
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David Greenspan
as Howard
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Jerome Preston Bates
as Officer McDonough
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Bob Kaliban
as Jim Lindsay
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Brenda Thomas Denmark
as Teacher
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Robert Montano
as Officer Crane
- Colman Domingo
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Ray Demattis
as Italian Waiter
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Stephen Singer
as Dr. Kaplan
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Adam Grupper
as Principal
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Joel Rooks
as Suit
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Marc Damon Johnson
as Professor Edwards
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Keith Nobbs
as Marc Stein
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Wynter Kullman
as Katie
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Shantell Herndon
as Young Jogger
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Antonio D. Charity
as Jogger
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Alvin Crawford
as Male Nurse
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Lisa Ann Frisone
as Homeless Woman
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Linda Johnson
as Teacher
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Derek Kelly
as Driver
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Demetrius Kiprakis
as Skateboarder
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Mark Ledbetter
as Young Jogger
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Sara Meyer
as Jogger
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Jonathan Mondel
as Morgan
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Adam Mucci
as Officer Samms
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Erik-Anders Nilsson
as Jogger
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Kelly Overton
as Erica
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Sho Ma "Xiao"
as Skateboarder
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Louie Torrellas
as Jeremy
- Diana Darrid Douglas
