
In the 1993 comedy film Son in Law, Patrick Renna plays the role of Zack, the obnoxious younger brother of the female lead, Rebecca Becca Warner, portrayed by Carla Gugino. The film, directed by Steve Rash, follows the story of Becca, a farm girl from South Dakota, who struggles to fit in at a university in Southern California due to the cultural differences. She finds solace in Crawl (played by Pauly Shore), a California surfer dude who helps her navigate her new environment. Despite its mixed reviews, the film was a box-office success and has gained a cult following.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the movie | Son in Law |
| Year of release | 1993 |
| Genre | Comedy, Drama, Romance |
| Actor who played the little brother | Patrick Renna |
| Name of the character | Zack |
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What You'll Learn
- Patrick Renna played the role of Becca's little brother, Zack
- Renna's character is described as obnoxious with a rad sense of humour
- Zack sees Crawl as a big brother and is impressed by his computer skills
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, but was a box-office success
- Rotten Tomatoes gave it a rating of 32% with an average rating of 4.1/10

Patrick Renna played the role of Becca's little brother, Zack
In the 1993 comedy film "Son in Law," Patrick Renna played the role of Becca Warner's little brother, Zack. In the film, the character of Becca, played by Carla Gugino, is an 18-year-old high school valedictorian from a farm town in South Dakota who decides to attend college in Los Angeles.
Becca initially struggles to adjust to her new environment, but with the help of her resident advisor, Crawl (played by Pauly Shore), she begins to embrace the Californian lifestyle, even getting a tattoo. When Becca invites Crawl to her family home for Thanksgiving, he must navigate the clash of cultures and win over her family, including her conservative father, Walter (Lane Smith), timid mother, Connie (Cindy Pickett), and little brother, Zack.
Zack, played by Renna, is impressed by Crawl's computer skills and begins to see him as a big brother figure. Despite facing mistreatment from his father, Zack is described as relatively normal, albeit with a perverse nature. Renna's portrayal of the obnoxious younger brother with a rad sense of humour is considered one of the best performances in the film.
"Son in Law" received mixed reviews from critics, with a 32% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it was a box office success and has since become a cult classic, with Shore's performance particularly noted for his over-the-top California dude persona.
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Renna's character is described as obnoxious with a rad sense of humour
In the 1993 comedy film "Son in Law", Patrick Renna plays the role of the obnoxious little brother, Zack, with a rad sense of humour. Renna's character, Zack, is the younger brother of the female lead, Rebecca "Becca" Warner, played by Carla Gugino.
The film follows the story of Becca, a farm girl from South Dakota, who decides to attend a university in Southern California. As she struggles to adapt to her new surroundings, she is helped by the resident advisor of her dorm, Crawl (played by Pauly Shore). Crawl is a typical "California dude" with a unique personality and mannerisms that clash with the conservative culture of Becca's family.
Zack, played by Renna, is described as obnoxious and bratty, but with a fun spin. He has a great sense of humour and a rad personality. In the film, he is impressed by Crawl's computer skills and begins to see him as a big brother figure. He also faces mistreatment from his father, who is narrow-minded and overbearing.
Renna's portrayal of Zack adds a unique dynamic to the film. His character's relationship with Crawl shows a different side of the story, as they bond over their shared interests and Zack looks up to Crawl. Renna's performance brings a layer of humour and charm to the film, showcasing his talent for playing obnoxious yet endearing characters.
Overall, Renna's character, Zack, is a memorable part of "Son in Law". His obnoxious yet humorous personality adds to the entertainment value of the film and showcases Renna's ability to play a unique and captivating role.
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Zack sees Crawl as a big brother and is impressed by his computer skills
In the 1993 comedy film "Son in Law," Patrick Renna plays the role of Zack, the little brother of the female protagonist, Becca. In the movie, Becca's family initially disapproves of her relationship with Crawl, Becca's resident advisor at college. However, Zack, the younger brother, is impressed by Crawl's computer skills and starts to see him as a big brother figure.
Zack's admiration for Crawl's computer skills adds an interesting dynamic to the story. While the film primarily focuses on the culture clash between Crawl and Becca's conservative family, Zack's appreciation for Crawl's talents showcases a different perspective. It indicates a level of respect and connection between the two characters, despite their age difference.
Crawl, played by Pauly Shore, embodies the quintessential California surfer dude persona. He is a way-out, over-the-top character with a unique sense of style and humor. His interaction with Becca's family, including Zack, provides many hilarious moments in the film. Despite their initial disapproval, Crawl gradually wins over the family with his charm and willingness to adapt to their way of life.
Zack, played by Patrick Renna, is described as having a "rad sense of humor." His character brings a fun and lighthearted element to the story. While he may be impressed by Crawl's computer skills, he also has a playful and mischievous side, adding humor and warmth to the family dynamics. Renna's portrayal of the obnoxious younger brother is noted as one of the highlights of the film.
The relationship between Zack and Crawl adds depth to the story and contributes to the overall entertainment value of "Son in Law." It showcases how Crawl is able to connect with different family members, even amid cultural differences and initial resistance. Through Zack's admiration and their budding brotherly bond, the audience sees a softer side of Crawl and a more nuanced portrayal of family dynamics within the film.
"Son in Law" received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising the entertainment value and others finding the characters obnoxious. However, the film succeeded in engaging its audience and has gained a cult following, particularly for those who enjoy Pauly Shore's unique brand of comedy.
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The film received mixed reviews from critics, but was a box-office success
The 1993 film Son in Law, starring Pauly Shore, received mixed reviews from critics. While some praised the film for its entertainment value and comedic elements, others found the premise predictable and the characters one-dimensional. Despite this, the film went on to become a box-office success, grossing $36.5 million in the United States market and achieving cult classic status.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a low rating of 32% based on 22 critics' reviews, with an average score of 4.1/10. Critics on the site characterised the film as obnoxious and criticised its portrayal of culture clash as unrealistic. Michael Wilmington of the Los Angeles Times echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that the film's premise was built on a flawed premise.
However, despite the negative reviews, Son in Law managed to find an audience and performed well at the box office. This success can be partly attributed to the popularity of its lead actor, Pauly Shore, who was known for his unique brand of comedy and over-the-top persona. Shore's performance in the film, while polarising, contributed to its cult following.
In addition to Shore, the film also starred notable actors such as Carla Gugino, Lane Smith, and Patrick Renna. These actors, particularly Gugino, received positive mentions for their performances, adding to the film's overall appeal.
Son in Law has also gained a reputation as a nostalgic piece of 90s culture, with its fashion, language, and humour reflecting the innocence and ignorance of the era. While the film may not have impressed all critics, its commercial success and enduring popularity have solidified its place as a cult classic.
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Rotten Tomatoes gave it a rating of 32% with an average rating of 4.1/10
The 1993 American comedy film "Son in Law" starred Pauly Shore as Crawl, an over-the-top California surfer dude, who tries to fit in with his girlfriend's rural South Dakota farm family. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 32% and an average score of 4.1/10. Despite this, it became a box-office success and has since become a cult classic.
The Rotten Tomatoes consensus characterises the film as "too obnoxious to be worthy of bringing home to your family", suggesting that the premise of the film—that Crawl would be as weird as a "lunar being" to Becca's family—is flawed. While the West Coast-meets-Midwest culture clash is not a new concept, the film does offer a fresh take with the wild and unpredictable antics of a then-rising star, Shore.
The film has been praised for its entertainment value and humour, with Shore's performance described as one of his least annoying and most likeable roles. However, critics such as Roger Ebert and James Berardinelli have pointed out the film's reliance on slapstick and crude language, with few genuinely funny moments.
In addition to Shore, the film also stars Carla Gugino as Becca, Lane Smith as Walter, and Patrick Renna as Becca's little brother, Zack. Renna's performance as the obnoxious younger brother has been highlighted as a standout, adding a fun spin to the bratty persona.
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Frequently asked questions
Patrick Renna played the role of Zack, the little brother in the 1993 film Son in Law.
The film starred Pauly Shore, Carla Gugino, Lane Smith, Cindy Pickett, Tiffani Thiessen, Patrick Renna, Dan Gauthier, and Dennis Burkley.
Son in Law is a comedy film about a California dude, Crawl (played by Pauly Shore), who tries to fit in with his love interest's rural South Dakota farm family.








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