Casting could have been better

As noted in some reviews, this is not consistent with the book. Steve & Teddy had been married a while. Casting Quaid (who remarked in the movie he was a middle-aged guy) with an actress 21 years younger was not the best decision. Either the actress should have been older & been Steve's wife, or Steve should have been played by a younger actor.

And you gave her a land mine? Really?
Well, it seemed appropriate at the time.
- Ron Swanson