Following graduation from a small school in Midwestern America, Rebecca Warner (Carla Gugino) opts for a change. Instead of sticking close to home, she wants to go to college in Southern California. Although her father, Walter (Lane Smith), and mother, Connie (Cindy Pickett), are uncertain about the idea, they agree that it's Becca's life, and make the two-day drive to her new school. There they encounter her Residential Advisor, Crawl (Pauly Shore). The next time the Warners meet Crawl, it's when he comes home for Thanksgiving with Rebecca. The person who disembarks from the plane isn't the same shy, reserved girl who left three months ago, but her change in attitude and appearance isn't the only surprise she has in store for her family. In order to get out of marrying an old boyfriend (Dan Gauthier), she pretends to be engaged to Crawl.

There must be some people who like Pauly Shore. After all, if they didn't exist, Son-in-Law would never have been made. Crawl was obviously scripted specifically for him. Unfortunately, Shore is among the least-watchable personalities in Hollywood, and it requires herculean self-control to sit through ninety-plus minutes of his irritating, juvenile antics. After enduring this film, I'm not sure I can ever bring myself to go to another movie featuring this talentless bore.

The film contains some humor, but not nearly enough to compensate for Shore. Perhaps the most inventive moment features a cameo by Brenden Frasier, reprising last summer's Encino Man role. It says a great deal about the film's quality to site this as one of Son-in-Law's highlights. The plot is stock romantic comedy material, complete with the usual misunderstandings, break-ups, and resolutions. The ending is so sickeningly sweet that I almost went into sugar shock.

Carla Gugino, who has the somewhat thankless role of Rebecca, does a fine job with the limited material she has been saddled with. In many ways, she's reminiscent of Kimberly Williams (Steve Martin's daughter in the remake of Father of the Bride). Both possess a similar, enjoyable freshness.

Since Son-in-Law takes place on a farm, there are the usual city-boy-out-of-his-element gags. Of course, there's a cow milking scene, and Shore gets to feed the pigs, pluck a turkey, and try his hand at fishing. It's all pretty routine stuff, and laughs are pathetically scarce. So, unless you're among those who admit to an inexplicable admiration for Shore, Son-in-Law will rate as one of the most unpleasant, grating experiences of the summer.