Relative Strangers
Relative Strangers is a 2006 American comedy film directed by Greg Glienna and co-written with Peter Stass.[1] The plot centers on Richard "Rich" Corrigan (Ron Livingston), a successful and uptight psychiatrist who discovers he was adopted as a baby and tracks down his biological parents, only to find that they are eccentric, working-class individuals living in a trailer park.[2] This reunion disrupts Rich's polished life and forces him to confront his roots, leading to humorous clashes between his sophisticated world and his parents' rough-around-the-edges lifestyle.[3] The film features a notable ensemble cast, including Kathy Bates and Danny DeVito as Rich's biological mother, Ellen, and father, Frank, respectively; Neve Campbell as Rich's fiancée, Ellen's namesake; and Christine Baranski as his adoptive mother, Agatha.[2] Produced by Equity Pictures Medienfonds with a runtime of 86 minutes, it premiered in limited theatrical release on May 1, 2006, and later received a direct-to-video distribution. Rated PG-13 for language and some sexual content.[1] Relative Strangers explores themes of family, identity, and social class differences through its fish-out-of-water comedy setup, drawing comparisons to films like Meet the Parents due to its ensemble dynamics and culture-shock humor.[4] Critically, the movie garnered limited reviews, with only 3 critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and no established Tomatometer score. It has an audience score of 31% based on over 2,500 ratings (as of November 2025), where some noted its predictable script and sitcom-like tone despite strong performances from the leads.[1] On IMDb, it holds a 5.3/10 average from over 4,600 user ratings, praised by some for its lighthearted family reconciliation but criticized by others for uneven pacing and clichéd elements.[2] Though not a box-office success, grossing $155,000 worldwide.[5]Synopsis and cast
Plot
Richard Clayton, a 34-year-old successful psychologist and author of a self-help book on anger management, learns from his adoptive parents that he was adopted as an infant.[2] This revelation occurs shortly before his wedding to his fiancée Ellen, prompting Richard to hire a private investigator to locate his biological parents.[4] Determined to uncover his roots, Richard contacts and arranges to meet his birth parents, Frank and Agnes Menure, who turn out to be eccentric, lower-class carnival workers residing in a rundown trailer park. Frank is a boisterous, crude individual with a penchant for inappropriate jokes, while Agnes is overly affectionate and oblivious to social norms.[6] Despite initial reservations, Richard invites them to visit his upscale home to bridge the gap before his wedding.[7] Upon arriving unannounced and ahead of schedule, Frank and Agnes immediately disrupt Richard's polished life with their chaotic energy, leading to cultural clashes and humorous mishaps. Their unfiltered behavior embarrasses Richard at a family dinner, where Frank's off-color remarks shock the guests, and Agnes's smothering hugs overwhelm everyone. These interactions reveal deep contrasts between Richard's refined adoptive family and the Menures' rough, carefree carny lifestyle, straining relationships and exposing long-buried family secrets.[4] Conflicts escalate as the Menures' presence interferes with wedding preparations; they crash a high-society engagement party with rowdy antics, including Frank starting an impromptu brawl, and Agnes meddling in Richard's professional life by showing up at his book promotion event. Richard grapples with an identity crisis, torn between rejecting his origins and embracing them, while tensions rise between his adoptive parents—who feel displaced—and the intrusive newcomers. His brother Mitch, jealous of Richard's success, fuels the discord by stirring up old resentments.[6][8] The story culminates in a climactic family confrontation during a disastrous dinner, where raw emotions erupt, forcing Richard to confront his prejudices and the complexities of family bonds. Through comedic reconciliation, Richard accepts both sets of parents, leading to a unified wedding ceremony that blends the two worlds in acceptance and forgiveness, underscoring the film's lighthearted exploration of heritage.[9]Cast
The principal cast of Relative Strangers includes Ron Livingston in the lead role, alongside Neve Campbell, Danny DeVito, and Kathy Bates portraying key family members. Supporting actors fill out roles as adoptive parents and extended family. The following table summarizes the main cast and their characters, with brief descriptions.| Actor | Character | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ron Livingston | Richard Clayton | The uptight adopted psychologist. |
| Neve Campbell | Ellen | Richard's supportive fiancée. |
| Danny DeVito | Frank Menure | Richard's boisterous biological father. |
| Kathy Bates | Agnes Menure | Richard's eccentric biological mother. |
| Edward Herrmann | Doug Clayton | Richard's adoptive father. |
| Christine Baranski | Arleen Clayton | Richard's adoptive mother. |
| Bob Odenkirk | Mitch Clayton | Richard's jealous adoptive brother. |