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Flirting with Disaster [DVD] [] [Region 1] [031398153542]

1 disc
Region 1 USA/CA (info)

Writer-director David O. Russell follows up his dark independent comedy SPANKING THE MONKEY with this hilarious romp about a man who goes on a quest to find his biological parents. Mel Coplin (Ben Stiller), a new father, is convinced that he won't be able to give his son a name until he reunites with his real mother and father. So Mel, his depressed, neglected wife, Nancy (Patricia Arquette), and a sexy adoption consultant named Tina (Tea Leoni) set out to find them. By the time they reach the New Mexico home of Mel's true parents (Alan Alda and Lily Tomlin)--two laid-back hippie scientists who are in the LSD business--Mel's marriage appears to be completely demolished. But the wackiness doesn't end there, since his neurotic, overbearing adoptive parents (George Segal and Mary Tyler Moore) arrive just in time to add even greater confusion to the mix.

Russell assembles a cast who have contributed greatly to the development of American screen comedy, and they throw themselves into their roles with great fervor. Commenting on identity, sexual and cultural prejudice, and the convention of marriage, Russell's script is a farcical laugh-fest that is at once intelligent, fast-paced, and witty. His assured, grounded direction makes FLIRTING WITH DISASTER's humor all the more outrageous and hysterical.
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Credits

Ben Stiller, Patricia Arquette, Ta Leoni, Tea Leoni, Mary Tyler Moore, George Segal, Alan Alda, Alphonso D'Abruzzo, Lily Tomlin, Mary Jean Tomlin, Richard Jenkins, Josh Brolin
Critic Reviews

"...A lumpy-bumpy road comedy in which expectations are constantly, and hilariously, deflated....Hang on and prepare to laugh continually..." -- 3 1/2 out of 4 stars
USA Today
"...[A] very funny film..."
Chicago Sun-Times
"...Top-drawer cast....One of the ha-ha funniest movies currently [available]..." -- Rating: B
Entertainment Weekly
"...A diabolically clever satire....Bracing and original....The laughs fly thick and fast..."
Variety
"...A beautifully balanced, frenetic comedy about searching for love in too many places, FLIRTING thrusts you into a sexy, giddy maelstrom of confusion, mischance and misadventure that gets funnier and funnier as it goes along..."
Los Angeles Times
"David O. Russell's sensationally funny second feature grabs your attention in the opening seconds..."
Wall Street Journal