Relative Strangers (2006)

Director:

Greg Glienna

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

May 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

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:

Time Lapse Photography | Independent Film

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

Also Known As:

Extraña familia (Argentina) (DVD title) (Mexico) (cable TV title) [es]
Familia casi perfecta, Una (Spain) (theatrical title) [es]
Kai apo edo... oi goneis mou (Greece) [el]
Obcy krewni (Poland) [pl]
Parentes Perfeitos (Brazil) (cable TV title) [pt]
Släkten är bäst (Sweden) [sv]

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

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

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: In the scene where Richard meets his parents. Kathy Bates puts the cheese ball on the coffee table. The next camera shot, she takes her hat off and Danny Devito starts yelling at her about her hair net. She has the cheese ball back in her hand.

Quotes:

Agnes Menure: That's an old joke!
Frank Menure: So's your face!

Movie Connections:

References Mother, Jugs & Speed (1976)

Soundtrack:

Funky Dunky

Hi, how the hell are ya?

I was looking for a Christa Campbell fix until I could watch her next movie. I wore out last month's Playboy and Scars hasn't arrived. I noticed her in this little comedy and said, what the heck! Unfortunately, I waited about 75 minutes before she appeared for about 60 seconds, not saying a word. Oh, well, the wait was worth it and there was a pretty funny comedy in the meantime.

I have to say that Neve Campbell really surprised me in this film. She was really good. She made me forget all about those Scream and Wild Things.

Ron Livingston was great as the psychologist who finds out that his real parents are carny folk as opposed to the snobs that raised him. Danny DeVito and Kathy bates were hilarious as the parents. I always like Christine Baranski, and she didn't disappoint with her nose high in the air.

Lots of laughs, and you can guess the ending.