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1[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/flirting_with_disaster.jpg]]
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3''Flirting with Disaster'' is a 1996 comedy film directed by Creator/DavidORussell and starring Creator/BenStiller, Creator/PatriciaArquette, and Creator/TeaLeoni. It is the story of one man's quest to find his biological parents in hopes that this will cure his neuroses and help him decide on a name for his newborn son. Naturally, HilarityEnsues.
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6!!This film contains examples of:
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8* AbusiveParents: Mel's adoptive parents, psychologically.
9* BourgeoisBohemian: Mel's biological parents, played by Creator/AlanAlda and Creator/LilyTomlin, are affluent, middle-aged hippies.
10* BuxomBeautyStandard: Pearl certainly seems to think so; to Mel and Nancy's disgust, she's constantly harps on Nancy to get a support bra for herself, and shows off how big her own breasts are by comparison.
11* DebatingNames: The plot kicks off because Mel feels he can't decide on a name until he's able to find his biological parents. At the end, he and Nancy decide to name their baby [[Music/TheGratefulDead Garcia]].
12* FanService:
13** Tea Leoni spends a scene in a black bra and panties.
14** A scene in which Mel meets a very affluent family that (quite unfortunately) was a false lead has the two daughters of the family walking around in sports bikinis after coming from a beach volleyball practice.
15* GeneHunting: The basic premise of the movie - Mel goes searching for his biological parents.
16* IntoxicationEnsues: After Mel finally meets his LSD-manufacturing biological parents, his newly-acquainted resentful brother doses his dinner with the stuff, but it gets eaten by a Federal agent who is along for the trip (as it were).
17* TheKlutz: One of the things Mel and Tina have in common is this.
18* LoveTriangle: Mel and Nancy are married, but each flirt with having an affair with another partner. Mel is attracted to Tina and Tony is Nancy's ex-boyfriend.
19* NeverGoingBackToPrison: Richard's reaction when he realizes a federal agent has been dosed with his LSD.
20* NewAgeRetroHippie: Mel's biological parents turn out to be old hippies who passionately argue that taking LSD shouldn't be a felony (as well they would, as they're manufacturing it.)
21* ParentalAbandonment: Mel is tormented by the fear that there was some very good reason why his biological parents gave him up for adoption.
22* PricelessMingVase: Valerie Swaney has a priceless collection of glass animals. Naturally, Mel accidentally destroys it.
23* StraightGay: Tony and Paul are ATF agents and partners. It's eventually revealed that they're romantic partners as well.
24* TheUnpronounceable: The name "Schlichting". Everyone outside of that family seems to have difficulty pronouncing it.

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