🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Steve Rash
- Genre: Comedy, Romance
- Release year: 1993
- Runtime (length): 1h 35min
- IMDb rating: 5.9/10 (24K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 29%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A farm girl brings her flamboyant college RA home for Thanksgiving, causing chaos, bonding over manure, and somehow making everyone a better person, because California.
🍿 Son in Law: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Becca’s Transformation and New Friendship
Becca, a small-town farm girl from South Dakota, heads off to UCLA for college. Overwhelmed by the culture shock, she initially wants to return home. Crawl, her unconventional dorm resident advisor, encourages her to embrace college life, leading to a dramatic makeover and newfound confidence.

Thanksgiving at the Farm
Facing pressure from her hometown boyfriend, Travis, and feeling a bit lonely himself, Becca impulsively invites Crawl home for Thanksgiving. His flamboyant personality clashes hilariously with her conservative family and friends. This sets the stage for a classic fish-out-of-water scenario, filled with comedic mishaps and culture clashes.

The Fake Engagement
When Travis is about to propose, Becca panics, and Crawl pretends they are already engaged. This lie throws the family into chaos, leading to both humorous situations and deeper connections. Crawl surprisingly starts to bond with Becca’s family, showing them new perspectives and breathing life into their traditions.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Crawl (Pauly Shore): A flamboyant and eccentric college student who befriends Rebecca and accompanies her home for Thanksgiving, creating hilarious culture clashes.
- Rebecca Warner (Carla Gugino): A farm girl who transforms into a college student and brings her unconventional friend Crawl home, disrupting her family’s traditional life.
- Walter Warner (Lane Smith): Rebecca’s conservative father who struggles to accept Crawl’s unconventional behavior and the changes in his daughter.
- Connie Warner (Cindy Pickett): Rebecca’s mother is initially shocked by Crawl but slowly warms up to him.
- Travis (Dan Gauthier): Rebecca’s former boyfriend who is threatened by Crawl’s presence and tries to sabotage their relationship.
- Zack Warner (Patrick Renna): Rebecca’s younger brother initially a brat, who befriends Crawl and finds his guidance valuable.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Crawl: “Bled me dry!” – Crawl’s catchphrase, often exclaimed when surprised or overwhelmed.
- Crawl: “Weezin’ the juice!” – Crawl’s expression for having fun or enjoying something.
- Walter Warner Sr.: “Travis, it really tweaks my melon, to see a buff bro like Crawl here, get weezed on by a greasy scumbag like you. So you just chill.” – Grandpa Warner defends Crawl against Travis’s bullying behavior, showing his acceptance.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $8,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $36,448,400
- Worldwide Gross: $36,448,400
💥 Son in Law Reviews
Personal Review
I absolutely loved “Son in Law”! It’s one of those movies that brings back so many memories of the 90s. Pauly Shore is hilarious as Crawl, and I found myself laughing out loud at his antics. The scene where he tries to help with the farm chores and ends up making a mess is classic! It’s a feel-good movie that I can watch over and over again.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of 90s comedies”
- “Viewers who enjoy fish-out-of-water stories”
- “Pauly Shore fans”
- “Anyone looking for a lighthearted, nostalgic film”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Suggestive humor”
- “Mild language”
- “Cultural stereotypes (may be seen as outdated)”
Professional Reviews
- Collider.com: “Carla Gugino shines in this ’90s rom-com. The movie cleverly uses stereotypes to create humor while exploring themes of family, tradition, and personal growth. Pauly Shore delivers a memorable performance, making it a lighthearted yet meaningful watch.
- IMDB User Review: “Pauly Shore’s comedic timing is on point. The film manages to be both hilarious and heartwarming, making it a great choice for a light, feel-good movie night. The interactions between the characters are what make this film truly shine.
- IMDB User Review: “A blend of humor and heart, this film effectively captures the culture clash. The supporting cast, including Lane Smith and Cindy Pickett, add depth to the story, making it more than just a typical comedy.
Audience Reactions
The culture clash between Crawl and the farm family is hilarious and relatable.: Viewers praised Pauly Shore’s comedic performance and the film’s lighthearted, feel-good nature.
The movie is a funny and nostalgic look back at the 90s.: Many people find the storyline predictable but still enjoy the quirky humor and heartfelt moments.
Overall Consensus: “Son in Law” is a fun, albeit predictable, 90s comedy that provides plenty of laughs and heartwarming moments. Its success lies in the comedic performance of Pauly Shore and the relatable culture clash.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “Brendan Fraser makes a cameo as his character Link from ‘Encino Man’ (or ‘California Man’) during the beach party scene. Crawl even remarks on his ‘great costume’.”
- “Pauly Shore’s character, Crawl, was initially conceived as even more outlandish, but Shore toned it down to make him more relatable.”
- “Many of the farm scenes were filmed in Visalia, California, chosen for its resemblance to the South Dakota landscape.”
🖥️ How to Watch Son in Law?
As of today, ‘Son in Law’ is available for purchase or rental on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and other major digital retailers. Check your local listings for television airings. Availability may vary by region.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Son in Law, you might like these similar films:
- Encino Man (1992): Another comedy featuring a ‘fish-out-of-water’ Californian character adjusting to a completely different environment.
- My Cousin Vinny (1992): Shares a similar theme of a city person navigating the unfamiliar customs of a rural community, with comedic results.
- Bio-Dome (1996): Another Pauly Shore comedy with similar goofy humor and a focus on contrasting lifestyles.
- You Don’t Mess with the Zohan (2008): Features a character with a unique background adapting to a new culture.
🛒 Son in Law Related Products
- Pauly Shore: Son in Law Movie Poster: A high-quality reproduction of the original movie poster, perfect for fans of Pauly Shore and 90s comedies.
- California Man [Blu-ray]: Brendan Fraser’s Link from California Man appears in Son in Law. Own both cult classics
- Totally Pauly: A great way to show support for Pauly Shore movies
🎧 Soundtrack
Son in Law features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
Yes, while primarily a comedy, ‘Son in Law’ features romantic elements as Becca navigates her feelings for Crawl amidst the culture clash and comedic situations.
While the movie is set in South Dakota, filming primarily took place in Visalia, California. This allowed for efficient production and a sunny, California-esque backdrop despite the Midwestern setting.
While ‘Son in Law’ is generally considered a family-friendly comedy, it contains some suggestive humor and language that may be unsuitable for younger children. Parental guidance is suggested.
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