Review of Son in Law (1993) by Justin S — 30 Dec 2016

The film character that Pauly Shore creates in Son-in-law and Encino seems special and unique to me looking back on them 20+ years later. I didn't not see them at that time. I do not remember Shore's TV work or what he was like then, but the movie character is really lovely.

He is not mean to anyone, he is not violent or angry ever, he is, like, zen or something, in the moment and content with himself. He is not full-of-himself arrogant, or greedy, or better than others, he is just that guy and content to completely go with the flow. The other characters may be shocked with him, his casualiness, but he does not see this, react to it, or acknowledge it. It is simply not his problem in any way.

He deflects, and absorbs conflict rather than advance it or react to it defensively.

So as a comic movie character he is unique and that is the appeal to me. He is kind, smart, in his way, really sweet. Yet the character is ripe with cultural criticism.

The movies avoid the horrible villain chase scenes that so many feature comedies end with. In Encino, he is confronted by a couple of Mexican homies, they want him to drink, so he drinks, he just goes with it. His only question is "Do I have to pay for this!".

They end up being his buddies. In so many other movies that would have gone to these guys chasing Stony around with other threatening villainous types.

I just love what he did in these movies and think his character is special. There is genius in his character. I can't think of another like him. Maybe Harry Langdon?

All commenters here are younger. You are more in the demographic that these products were meant for. So I could see that you might want to reject, or rebel. When he emerged big I was already in my 40s so now I really look at this from the distance of back then but also from the distance on never being in the target audience.

I also noticed how the work is clean. I think I said to Tara, "wholesome". No F-word, of shit jobs, clear and clever. No ugly gender shaming. Not even any drugs other than the Mexican booze scene and the character name as Stony. Not that I mind that sort of thing al that much, but I was aware of their absence in these.