Meet the Fockers Movie Review:


Ben Stiller’s surprise mega-hit of 2000, “Meet the Parents” found him trying to get along with his future in-laws. Now four years later, it’s his girlfriend’s turn to meet his parents.

The sequel stars Ben Stiller once again as Greg Focker, who brings his girlfriend, Pam Byrnes (Teri Polo) home to meet his parents (Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand) in the Florida Keys. Along for the ride are Pam’s parents (Robert DeNiro and Blythe Danner) who will be meeting Greg’s parents for the first time.

Greg is very nervous since his parents aren’t your typical garden-variety mom and dad. Greg’s father, Bernie, quit his highly successful career as a lawyer to become a stay-at-home dad for Greg. As for Greg’s mom, Roz, she is a new-age sex therapist for senior citizens. Greg wonders what Pam’s straight-arrow ex-CIA father will make of his folks and it worries him about his future with Pam.

When both sides of a family get together there are bound to be all sorts of mayhem and as for Greg and Pam, this is just the beginning.

“Meet the Fockers” seems off the bat to be a direct blow-for-blow return to the original. You have the odd meeting scene, the goofy dinner sequence, Pam’s dad doubting Greg’s loyalty and so forth. But what is probably the film’s saving grace is the fact that there is so much talent involved.

I have often said that acting and talent often can’t save a picture but in this film they sure give it the old college try. Dustin Hoffman’s performance as the over-affectionate dad is utterly hilarious and Streisand’s sex-educated mother works wonders against the stiff personas of Danner and DeNiro. I have to give the filmmakers credit that they really know how to cast.

I kind of wished they would have found more jokes and comedic scenes for DeNiro. This time out, DeNiro’s character seems overly stubborn and dare I say, cruel. You really begin to doubt his sincerity and how that involves the protection of his family.

Like a lot of comedy sequels, “Meet the Fockers” doesn’t live up to the momentum or hilarity of the original but does have its wonderful performances and comic filled moments.

So Says the Soothsayer



Dean Kish

Four years ago, Meet the Parents was a surprise hit--enjoyable and cleverly written but rather too silly. Then the filmmakers struck casting gold for this much more inspired sequel.

Greg Focker (Stiller) has been dragging his heels about marrying fiancee Pam (Polo) simply because he's afraid to introduce her insanely overprotective ex-CIA agent dad Jack (DeNiro) to his lefty, stuck-in-the-70s parents Bernie and Roz (Hoffman and Streisand). But the time has come, and off they go in Jack's Kevlar-coated Winnebago with Jack's patient wife Dina (Danner) and their infant, already over-educated grandson (Spencer & Bradley Pikren). And it's of course all much worse than Greg thought it would be.

Fortunately, the screenwriters actually bother to take things much further, rather than just rewrite the embarrassment shtick from Part 1. This is a much better comedy--warm and inventive, with stronger characters and much more engaging interaction. Rather than just humiliate Stiller over and over again, this story actually digs beneath the surface and gives him a distinctive role to play, which he handles perfectly. And the story around him is simply divine--it's pure joy watching DeNiro, Streisand and especially Hoffman navigate their way through this story, with fine support from Danner and Polo. They're all having great fun, and it shows. And along the way each actor is both hilarious and telling.

And while there is a serious subtext, cast and crew remember that this is essentially a frivolous comedy. Roach directs the film sharply, only resorting to slapstick goofiness a few times, but continually grounding even those sequences. He avoids the cartoonish zaniness of the first film and instead draws from the chaos a surprisingly adept character-based comedy. Our laughter comes from how these people bounce off each other in rather realistic ways, and even more in the way we can see ourselves in them. Sure, it never seems to go quite far enough with the various issues it raises, and some scenes are just too goofy for words. But most of it will keep you giggling long after the inspired closing credit sequence.

Rich Cline

Even though they have been engaged for two years, Greg (Stiller) and Pam (Polo) have managed to keep their parents from meeting but now that the wedding was getting closer Pam’s father Jack (De Niro) has insisted that they finally get together. Wanting to see if his family circle of trust can connect with Greg’s family circle of trust, he has to make sure the resulting chain does not develop a kink in it. So Greg, Pam, Jack and Dina (Danner) head down to Florida to meet the Fockers (Hoffman and Streisand).

After the phenomenal success of ‘Meet the Parents’ we where bound to see a sequel hit the silver screen but can we expect from this comedy follow-up?

Reuniting Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Teri Polo, Blythe Danner and director Jay Roach, the further adventures of Greg and the Byrnes family move to Florida to meet Greg’s parents Bernie and Roz Focker, played by Dustin Hoffman and Barbara Streisand. The casting of Hoffman and especially Streisand, who hasn’t acted in a movie since ‘The Mirror Has Two Faces’ in 1996, is inspired as both of them bring their exceptional acting talents to this comedy.

If you like the first film, you are going to love the second one as it is exactly on the same wavelength. Robert De Niro is on top comedic form as ex-CIA agent Jack Byrnes. The character is just as suspicious as always, especially when he has to except new people into his circle of trust. Ben Stiller’s Greg is as neurotic as ever, fearing what Jack will think of his very liberal parents. This is a role that Stiller always seems to play and his character is probably the least developed of the cast. Teri Polo has a bit more to do in this one now that she has to keep a secret from her overprotective father. As with the original, Blythe Danner doesn’t really have a lot to do but she does have some funny moments.

Stealing the show from the returning cast is the performances of Dustin Hoffman and Barbara Streisand. Both gifted comedic actors, they bring a welcome freshness to the proceedings. These two infinitely talented performers make Bernie and Roz Focker exactly how you’d imagine a couple that would call their son Gaylord.

While fans of the original will revel in the comedic exploits of their favourite characters, others my find the humour a little too samey and not as outrageous as the first film. There are plenty of moments that will make you chuckle but nothing that will make you laugh out loud or have you quoting to your friends. Many of the jokes are excessively repeated, especially the use of the name ‘Focker’ and the scenes with Jack’s grandson, Little Jack, seem like they are just thrown in for a cute factor.

‘Meet the Fockers’ is a lighthearted romp that continues at the same breezy pace as the first film. With good performances from a star-studded cast and humour that amuses but never quite pushes the boundaries of bad taste, this is a sequel that will have fans raving and leave a smile on the face of everyone else.

Jamie Kelwick

 

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