Movie Description
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.
| Credits | | Cast: | Alan Alda, Josh Brolin, Lily Tomlin, Patricia Arquette, Téa Leoni |
| Details | | Edition: | Collector's Edition |
Notes
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Additional Release Material:
Featurettes - 1. Deleted Scenes
2. Outtakes
3. FLIRTING WITH DISASTER Original Featurette, Released theatrically in the U.S. on March 22, 1996.
"I want you to consider my age and ask yourself how I maintain this."--Mrs. Coplin (Mary Tyler Moore), lifting her sweater to demonstrate the advantage of wearing a good bra
"It's all right, we'll try it again when he turns 65...Provided he lives that long. And you're not busy."--Mrs. Coplin to Mel Coplin (Ben Stiller), who has missed his father's 60th-birthday celebration
"This woman strikes me as very dangerous."--Mrs. Coplin, regarding Tina Kalb (Tea Leoni)
"Thanks for the jacket! Sorry about the mace!"--Mel Coplin to the young Christian he accidentally sprayed
Editorial Reviews
"...Top-drawer cast....One of the ha-ha funniest movies currently [available]..." -- Rating: B
Schwarzbaum
"...A diabolically clever satire....Bracing and original....The laughs fly thick and fast..."
Variety - Todd McCarthy (03/25/1996)
"...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 - Kenneth Turan (03/22/1996)
"...[A] very funny film..."
Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert (03/29/1996)
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