Meet the Parents (Full Screen Special Edition) Reviews

• Very Funny Movie(Another Ben Stiller Winner)

  
  By A14JM8A4XZASLC on 2000-10-09
  I wasn't really sure what to expect with Robert De Niro in a more comedic role and the so-so reviews of Meet the Parents. Well, let me be the first to tell you that all theses reviews were wrong and De Niro shined in his role as the father. The toilet humor of There's Something About Mary is still present in Meet the Parents--I won't give any of it away since the shock factor is what makes these scenes so hilarious. Ben Stiller is wonderful as Gregory, the misguided yet well-intentioned boyfriend of Jack's daughter. This movie had so many well placed comic moments that I never really stopped laughing. Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller make such a great pair because of the fact that they are such polar opposites. De Niro's paranoia feeds Stiller's own paranoia and makes for a lot of awkward but humorous confrontations. Their misunderstandings range from the hidden meaning of "Puff the Magic Dragon" to premarital relations. Mixed in somewhere within the gags and the shock humor is a nice romance story that is somewhat generic but never overshadows Stiller and De Niro's relationship. Meet the Parents is one of the funniest movies I have seen in a long time and I implore you to see it.
  
  

• Meet the Parents

  
  By A40M6MAF2O686 on 2001-03-01
  You don't need a lot of words to describe a movie this funny. I really didn't stop laughing from the very first minute of the movie. I admit that I have been disappointed by Stiller movies in the past, like "There's Something About Mary" and "Mystery Men". I didn't hate them, but I didn't really want to watch them over again after seeing them.

  Ben and Deniro are both brillant together in this movie. They are both from completely different planets as far as comedic prowess and that makes them work great against each others characters. The play on Focker's name is just so hilarious. It's a great movie, I could watch it over and over again.
  
  

• MEET THE PARENTS is sheer delight

  
  By A1IO3LVYV5ZMK8 on 2001-01-07
  MEET THE PARENTS is billed as the hysterical comedy of the year and the vociferous accolades is justified because of the impeccable acting and the outstanding supporting ensemble. Robert De Niro is at his best in this comedy with his wry humour and irresistible dry wits. Ben Stiller charms as the male paramedic, Greg Focker who embarks on a treacherous "Meet the Parents" session when he decides to settle down with Pam (Teri Polo). A series of accidents happen and Greg begins to reconsider his options when her ex-boyfriend played by Owen Wilson stepped in. The whole mess including breaking the urn of De Niro's beloved mother and the reciting of the "prayer", breaking the nose of Pam's sister at a volleyball game - makes such a hilarious turn and imaginative gloss to the plot.

  However, it is the acting that shines - especially De Niro and Stiller with such perfect comedic timing that they fill up the screen with luminous presence. Never a dull moment, although the slapsticks do occur - "Puff the Magic Dragon " and all the cranky jokes on Focker's name - makes it entertaining and accessible yet not crude. The director Jay Roach (AUSTIN POWERS) sits back prudently to watch the two leads steal the show with their effervescent chemistry. Never mind the plot - just watch the two male actors enchant. This is definitely one comedy that is so affable and adorable that it requires no parental guidance.
  
  

• Funniest Flick Of 2000

  
  By A1E67R795EG4CI on 2001-01-23
  In a year filled with less-than-par movies (especially those in the comedic genre) this was a breath of fresh air. I haven't heard a theatre audience laugh harder since 1995 when I watched "Dumb & Dumber". This is a similar comedy with a little more sense and a little less slapstick.

  Greg Focker is a nurse who, before asking his girlfriend to marry him, must visit her parents and o.k. it with them. Things seem to be going well enough when he picks up the wrong bag at the airport, causing the oncoming hell that is 'Meeting the parents'.

  Robert DeNiro stars as the father, an ex CIA agent who keeps a very close eye on Focker, and doesn't like what he sees. He mistakes him for a pot smoking, test-cheating, porno-watching liar who isn't fit for his daughter. At the comedic climax of the film, DeNiro even gives Focker a polygraph test.

  In the end, sides aching, this film left me more satisfied than I'd been walking out of a theatre in a LONG time. Although comedies typically don't get oscar nods, this one is certainly deserving.

  Lets pray for a "Meet The Parents, The Sequel" to save us from future movie boredom.
  
  

• "Funny? Funny how? Funny like a clown?" No, not this film...

  
  By A2JIU9KUIZ71E2 on 2001-03-16
  Not only was this film not funny, I found it achingly sad to see an actor of DeNiro's caliber to be starring in a film which relied on so many physical comedy, bathroom humor, and unclever wordplay type devices (oh yeah, like Focker is SUCH a clever, funny name--whatever)...I thought I was watching a film by those idiots who made THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY.

  The premise is believable for about ten seconds, then all this mumbo jumbo about DeNiro's character being linked with the CIA and mixing that with his odd attachment to his cat, a bizarre Oedipal thing for his mother's ashes and poor poetry interpretation skills, coupled with the horror of painfully watching Blythe Danner try to sleepwalk her way through her role was torturous. Add this to the simple fact Ben Stiller is NOT FUNNY, and I can't possibly give you a valid reason to watch this piece of trash which made tons of money at the box office. I feel angry I must grant it one star as I am not allowed to give it any less of a rating. Robert, please get in touch with Martin Scorsese and stay far away from garbage like this in the future...oh, too late, you're already signed on for the sequel...
  
  

• Yeah, well a lot of people buy Backstreet Boys albums, too
  By A3SP37JLGH5KFY on 2001-01-16
  ...and it doesn't make it alright. This movie was awful. How it managed to rake in so much money, I'll never know. Well... scratch that, I do know: appealing to a demographic. To put it mildly, if you are over 40, you might find this movie amusing. If seeing Robert Deniro hang around his suburban home in a yuppie cardigan with his airhead wife, incessantly yapping about inane topics, and preening over his beloved pet cat makes you smile, then maybe this movie hits close enough to home for you to see a reflection.

  Honestly, I laughed ONCE during this whole flick (two words: "kitty litter") but that was IT. Stiller plays the same whiny little schmuck he always plays, his "girlfriend" is about as compelling as an end table, Deniro is so obviously hamming up his unlikeable role as "tough father-in-law" that you can smell him coming a mile away, and his wife is... completely an accessory. The other players are bit-parts that make no difference.

  This movie just pillages the toilet jokes and "wacky" humor of so many of today's poor excuses for films (Something About Mary, any Jim Carrey movie) and then DUMBS IT DOWN a few notches for the sake of the over-the-hill crowd. The jokes are so tired and so predictable, and SO ham-fisted that it is truly an insult to the intelligence of anyone who sees this tripe. And I hope you all will see it for exactly what it is: slowing down the "comedy du jour" so the old folks can catch up.

  This is about as entertaining as Lawrence Welk at a Matlock convention. Will somebody please pass the prunes?
  
  

• Another stereotypical Stiller comedy, but it is funny
  By A3KF4IP2MUS8QQ on 2004-10-26
  Let's see. Ben Stiller plays some poor schmuck who has somehow managed to land a girlfriend far out of what should be his league, makes a complete fool out of himself time and time again trying to keep that girl, and everything magically works out in the end for no apparent reason - and there's a beloved pet in the story, too. Hmmm, this sounds familiar. I really don't know how I ended up watching yet another Ben Stiller movie, since Ben Stiller is one of my least favorite actors, but Meet the Parents has its funny moments, benefits greatly from the talents of the consummate actor himself, Robert De Niro, and ends up being fairly entertaining albeit redundant.
  
  Ben Stiller plays Greg Focker, a name which leads to countless jokes throughout the film, a male nurse who has somehow won the affections of a certain Pam Byrnes (Teri Polo); his elaborate plan to propose to Pam is stymied when he learns Pam's sister is getting married in two weeks and - shudder - he is about to meet Pam's parents. Naturally, he's nervous and tries tremendously hard to make a good impression. Unfortunately, dear old Dad (Robert De Niro) is very hard to please and Greg, being the naturally ill-fated nincompoop he is, manages to mess up time and time again - big-time; I'm talking 100 times worse than Steve Urkel here. I won't go into any details, so as not to take away from the hilarity that ensues - well, it's good for a few laughs, anyway.
  
  The film actually has a great cast. De Niro more than makes up for Stiller's faults, and Owen Wilson is a great addition as Pam's smarmy ex-fiancé. If you like There's Something About Mary, you are sure to enjoy Meeting the Parents, as it is really just more of the same type of comedy. The comedy actually goes a little too far, if you ask me, because there is no way that any family could accept Greg Focker after all of the damage he causes over the course of a mere weekend.
  
  The movie is helped by the fact that most people can identify with Greg Focker and the trauma of meeting prospective in-laws for the first time, especially guys having to worry about staking a claim to daddy's little girl. Personally, I like the fact that this movie didn't go to any gross-out extremes; barring a few common curse words and a steady supply of jokes about Greg Focker's name, this is a pretty family-friendly film. There's nothing very original about it, but Meeting the Parents is pretty entertaining and is sure to get a few grins out of even the most curmudgeonly of viewers.
  
  
• This was funny???
  By on 2001-02-18
  I don't get it. Maybe I'm just a curmudgeon, but this was one of the most unfunny, contrived, STUPID movies I've seen in ages! The very few "jokes" that might have worked are nothing more than mean-spirited barbs. There's no sense of comedy, humour, or sympathy for the characters. It's just a loooong string of stupid people acting stupidly and suffering stupid consequences.

  I tried to give it two stars, but I came away from the theatre so angry that it doesn't get the second one. This is a movie that truly deserves one star.
  
  

• Uncomfortable and unfunny
  By on 2001-03-18
  I am still amazed that this movie was such a big hit - it is one of the worst "comedies" I have ever tried to sit through. Unless you enjoy seeing someone ridiculed and treated rudely throughout the entire film, I don't recommend it. The whole movie feels uncomfortable and that feeling never leaves you. It's simply awful and should be an embarrassment for De Niro.
  
  
• "There's Something About Mary" without Mary and jokes.
  By A24I2YY8ATIDCE on 2001-02-02
  Let's see: good actors, nice genre, interesting plot and no fun at all. The jokes on the movie are based on humiliating Greg, but they're not disgusting enough to make fun, they just make you feel unconfortable. I've expected a lot of this film what made it looks a even bigger waste of time.
  
  
• I almost turned it off...
  By on 2001-03-14
  How many times do they expect us to laugh at DeNiro saying Focker? Who would accept such treatment from a potential father-in-law? What woman would let her father decide who she dates?

  I know this movie was supposed to be a comedy and not taken seriously, but I watched it with my entire family, and we didn't laugh once. DeNiro said Focker about 8 times too many. It's funny when you first learn what his name is, it's not so the next 7 times.
  
  

• This film is TERRIBLE!
  By A2YSOM1A805PQP on 2001-01-06
  Meet The Parents is aimed at the crowd that likes to see overweight people get hit in the groin on Americas Funniest Home Videos. The jokes are all at the expense of Craig Focker (Stiller). The CIA dad (De Niro) can not let his daughter marry someone without his approval. Focker is already going there for the wedding of his girlfriends sister. The whole trip is meant to be a time where Focker can impress the father and have his blessing. Catastrophy after catastrophy strike, and we are supposed to yuck it up.

  The true fact of the matter is that you can only see so many bad things happen to a seemingly good person. This film crams numerous bad things into the story, just to have us laugh at this persons misfortunes. And millions did laugh. This film was supposed to be fun and light hearted. This film may have provoked more laughter if it had went for something more than the cheap laugh. Many of the jokes in the script are based around Focker's last name, and the fact that he is a nurse. Yeah, that is real funny. The man is a nurse. He is helping to save peoples lives, so lets make fun of him. Really intelligent. Just like this film.
  
  

• No wonder this movie bombed in the theaters!!
  By on 2001-03-07
  Don't get fooled by the snappy trailer ... this is one unfunny film. You're going to get suckered by the Stiller / De Niro billing, but you're in for a major disappointment. Like the characters in the film, MTP is stiff, dry, even painful to watch.

  I still can't get over how the trailer set up my expectations. Shame on the Hollywood marketing machine for duping the general public. This movie bombed in the theaters, and deservedly so.
  
  

• + 1/2 stars. A Stiller performance!
  By A1T40HDUXPA7RM on 2001-06-10
  Greg Focker (Stiller), a male nurse from Chicago, wants to marry his girlfriend, Pam (Teri Polo), but first he must ask her father (DeNiro) for permission. The couple travel to her parent's home in Oyster Bay, Long Island, and all hell breaks loose.

  Greg desperately wants to be accepted by his hopeful future in-laws, and will go to any length to ingratiate himself - which is his problem. He will say or do anything to make these people like him, and with Pam's dad, it's a losing proposition. A retired CIA profiler, DeNiro is suspicious and distrustful, and a private war, with Pam as the object, begins as soon as they meet.

  At its core, Meet the Parents wants to be a Peter Sellers farce, and at many points it works (and I could actually see Sellers playing both roles - maybe even at once in a case of stunt casting along the lines of The Party and Dr Strangelove). The film is basically a series of screw-ups, each more excruciating than the last, and Roach does a good job of creating serious tension without ever letting things get too over the top.

  What sells the tension, though, are the performances of Stiller and DeNiro. DeNiro has been on a comedy kick recently, and this is his best comedic performance yet. He is able to do more with a single reaction shot than most comedic actors can do with a whole performance. Stiller is making a career out of roles like this - the nervous, skittery put-upon guy.

  I've heard people complain that Meet the Parents is sitcomish. What I think they are really getting at is the movie's basic geniality. Even when the film tries to be edgy (and having a cat pee on someone's ashes is definitely edgy), it never goes over the line to be mean spirited or crude. While both Stiller and DeNiro do things that are destructive and potentially cruel, both actors are able to sell the basic humanity of the characters - you know their motivations and are willing to forgive their ridiculous behavior.

  Meet the Parents isn't pushing the envelope the way a Farrelly Brothers movie does - on the commentary track Roach mentions that he agonized over including what toilet humor there is in the film. It does manage to get in some classic moments (including one of the best chase scenes I have ever seen, and a third act airport scene that is priceless), and the supporting performances are great as well. Owen Wilson is hilarious as Pam's ex-boyfriend who can do no wrong, James Rebhorn brings the best pronunciation of "Focker" to the proceedings, and Blythe Danner quietly steals almost every scene she's in.

  I didn't see this movie in the theatres, and without renting it, I bought it on DVD, and was pretty happy with it the first time. The next time around, I was glad that I bought this. Great story with comedy with the usual ending.
  
  

• In-Law Laughs....
  By A2ZSC81MXLBELX on 2003-10-04
  This review refers to the VHS edition(Universal) of "Meet the Parents"......

  You may not think your in-laws are really so bad after seeing what poor Greg Focker has to go through with his future family. Yes you read right, his name is Greg Focker and he's about to spend the weekend with the parents of the girl he intends to marry. Pam's dad, Jack Byrnes, really loves his daughters, and any man who wants to share their lives better be up to his standards. He's an ex-CIA agent who will scrutinize your every move and you better like his cat as well.What will it take for Greg to win the hand of the girl he loves..and does he really want to be a part of this crazy family after all? It's laugh out loud stuff as every move he makes turns into a hysterical series of events that has Pam's family turning against him.

  Who else could be the over protective,over bearing,over analyzing, prospective father-in-law than than Mr. Tough Guy himeslef..Robert De Niro. His straight faced comic timing is just one more side of this very talented actor. Ben Stiller is a laugh a minute as he tries to please this unpleasable Dad.
  The rest of the cast is nicely rounded out by Blythe Danner,Teri Polo,James Rebhorn and the fabulous Owen Wilson. Director Jay Roach brings this terrifc ensemble together beautifully and the music by Randy Newman adds more fun to the story.It's one of those great comedies that is still funny with repeated viewings.

  The VHS is in Stereo surround, sounds great,has closed captions, and has a nice picture as well.

  So kick back,enjoy the film, but..be careful not to let the cat out!.....have fun with this great addition to you comedy or De Niro collection.....Laurie
  
  

• Not Funny
  By ABLWGDPUOSEXR on 2001-02-14
  I went into Meet the Parents expecting to see an entertainingcomedy about a man trying to get on the good side of his fiancée'sfather. Instead, I was served up a steaming pile of crap that is thisfilm. There are hardly any jokes that don't make fun of the fact thatCraig Focker, the main protagonist (Ben Stiller) is a male nurse, orthat aren't a pun on his last name. The jokes are horribly laboredand over-used, and there are scenes that are downright boring. Thedinner scene, for example, is excruciating. How funny is it to watcha Jewish person struggle through a Christian blessing? You won't endup laughing; you'll end up feeling sorry for him. The only reason Igive this movie two stars instead of one is that of the stellarperformances. Stiller, De Niro, Danner, (fiancée's mom) and Polo(the fiancée) all do their very best with the material they have.Also, there's one funny scene in the end that involves Stiller and astewardess. All in all, this movie is just a way to see how many badthings can happen to a good person in two hours. How funny is that?
  
  
• It's your call
  By on 2001-03-13
  Before you rent or buy Meet The Parents, it helps to know whether this movie's type of humor is to your taste. Here's a clue: the lead character's name is Greg Focker.

  Greg ... Focker. Many people think that's absolutely hysterical. Do you? then this is probably your kind of flick. Otherwise, stay away.
  
  

• De Niro's Worst Movie
  By on 2001-03-13
  Another Dream Work's dog... Meet the Parents is forced, boring, and just plain not funny.

  As a big fan of De Niro, I expected a certain level of entertainment, but this movie was rancid. The script was boring, background music grinding, and acting horrid. Could they have made the audience suffer more? Luckily it was only 100 minutes.

  An actor of De Niro's capability really should not associate his name with such projects....
  
  

• Skip This Meeting
  By A3MI7LRPQ1N6D5 on 2001-03-18
  Stale, unoriginal humor is the downfall of this take-it-or-leave-it Ben Stiller comedy. Stiller plays male nurse Gaylord Focker (whose name is the inspiration for at least a quarter of the movie's jokes), a hapless soul whose attempts to propose to his girlfriend (Teri Polo) are interrupted by a phone call announcing her sister's engagement. This leads to the wedding trip, and Stiller's opportunity to meet the parents.

  What follows are a series of mildly amusing situations and one-liners, none of which you'll probably be itching to repeat at work tomorrow. Owen Wilson is a bright spot, as usual, playing Polo's ex-fiance. He also delivers the best line in the movie, a deadpan joke about the inspiration for his hobby, carpentry. Robert DeNiro and Blythe Danner, however, are both too woefully underchallenged to be able to turn in memorable performances.

  The DVD's extra features include the standard outtakes, commentaries, and deleted scenes, as well as interactive personality quizzes which are fun to take but whose answers seem somewhat random. Overall, Meet the Parents is only worth renting if you're desperate to see a movie and this is the just about only thing left on the video store shelves.
  
  

• If this is funny then i'm dead
  By A2Q7YBUV8IPTLW on 2001-03-23
  Because seeing a nice guy just get abused by a bunch of snobby, pretentious, holier than thou schmucks just ain't my cup of tea. All I could feel was sympathy for Stiller's character. Although I have to admit I laughed at the volleyball scene. So sue me.
  
  
• Watch it with friends
  By A3LTS0Y25P9V88 on 2001-03-27
  I imagine the people that didn't like this flick probably watched it alone, or maybe with a significant other. Many comedies need a group viewing (theatres obviously work best) to get the full laugh effect. I viewed "Parents" twice: once alone with my wife, and again the next day with a few relatives over. It was definitely "funnier" the second time. Likewise, my 2nd screening of "American Pie" (solo) did not produce nearly the same laughs as my first screening with my beer-swilling friends. I believe setting has a lot to do with how a comedy is perceived.

  That said, "Parents" was a funny flick. I am not a big DeNiro in a comedy setting, but he handled himself great here. Ben Stiller has obviously found his niche and was again funny here. Teri Polo looked juicy and held her own with Stiller and DeNiro. The future in-law family was incredibly funny, and Owen Michael as the rich ex-fiance was a gem.

  The running gag on Ben Stiller's last name (Focker) never got old, and managed to generate laughs by itself. The cat storyline was cute. The DVD has some great extra features which add a half star to my rating.

  All in all, it is a fun couple hours where you suspend belief and have some laughs. It is what it is. Enjoy!
  
  

• Meet the Parents
  By on 2001-05-22
  My wife and I were both extremely disappointed in this movie. It was overly contrived, with each scene being "forced" into the script to keep the plot going. Because I had heard this was a good movie, I couldn't help but ask around my workplace to see if my wife and I were somehow starting to slip out of the mainstream. The response I received made me realize that the movie was indeed a bust in the minds of college educated folk over 35. Sorry Robert De: You're still one damn good actor. You just couldn't quite save this sedative.
  
  
• Absolutely Hysterical!!!
  By A1N2L9A6I686G5 on 2005-07-17
  My husband & I actually went to see this movie the week before he was going to ask my father for my hand in marriage - thank God he already knew my family, or I think this movie may have scared him off!!!
  
  I have to say that we laughed SO hard during this movie that our cheeks hurt! And, everyone else in the theater was laughing hysterically too. In fact, when it was over, everyone in the theater stood up and clapped - I've only seen a standing ovation in a movie theater twice in my life!
  
  "Meet the Parents" is a romantic comedy about about an awkward guy who is ready to ask his girlfriend to marry him. However, just as he's ready to pop the question, he finds out that her sister's boyfriend had just asked her father for her hand in marriage (and his girlfriend makes it clear that she thinks that this is the way it should be)- so now, he not only has to meet her parents, he has to look good enough in their eyes so that they'll say yes to his proposal.
  
  Well, he winds up becoming even more awkward - telling lies just to look better than he his, and always in such a way that ANYONE could tell he's not on the up & up. To boot, her father is a CIA agent, so of course he can see right through his shinanagins (did I spell that right???). This is hysterical in & of itself, but then the physical comedy comes to play (think Jack Tripper of "Threes Company")... Put together, this movie just couldn't be funnier!!!
  
  If you're looking for a great romantic comedy, & want to laugh until your cheeks hurt, then I HIGHLY recommend this movie!
  
  
• My review...
  By A2RY64L8YR96MM on 2000-10-08
  What a funny movie...

  The movie is about a normal and nice guy Greg, playes by Ben Stiller who is about to ask his long time love to marry him. He goes all out to ask, even having a large group of children holding up a sign that says "Marry Me Pam", but it fell through before he could show her because she said her father would of wanted to "Meet" him first.

  So, Greg must postpone his showing of the ring and his love until he can meet her parents. He goes all out for Pam, he quits "try's to" smoking, just so he could be with her. One the that really "helps" is the suitcase that he put the ring in, was lost in carrier while on the plane.

  Once they make it to the house, the mother instantly welcomes him into their home, offering him anything needs just like family. However on the other side, the father is anything but welcoming. Robert Dinero Plays the Dad like a champ. Making you hate him one minute and the other you know he is just being a good dad.

  Well, after Greg meets the parents the rest of the family comes around. One thing I failed to mention was the it was Pam's sister's wedding and Greg thought it would be a good idea to ask the father's permission then and there. Well they kind of rub there money in Greg's face and make him the odd man out.

  When they go over to the best man's lavish house, who is also Pam's ex-lover, everyone is not the nicest to Greg, as you could gather. In on eof the funniest scenes in the ENTIRE movie, first off Greg did not have any shorts to swim in so Pam's ex let him borrow a pair of his, which were a pair of speedos! When he came out of the dressing room. lets just say he was a little big, while they are playing volleyball or whatever in the pool, Greg's team is riding him about the spike play, they want him to do it, so when the Dad lines up, Greg gets a peice of it and spike it, right at Pam's sister's face! A large amount of blood just kept gushing out, "Think There's Something About Mary", it was great!

  Well there was so much more I could talk about, this movie was really good. I wonder what it woud of been like if it was R? That would of been cool. I just think it was a great movie. Ben Stiller keeps poping out new and good films. This is a must see.

  When it comes out on DVD, I will get it and then review it again. I hope the features complement it.

  Well, that is about it...Hope my review helps either way, Ryan
  
  

• De Niro And Stiller Do Classic Comedy
  By A1J2931UBBJPXM on 2000-10-18
  How do you make a good first impression on and win over your prospective father-in-law on the very weekend you intend to ask for his first-born daughter's hand in marriage? A tricky, touchy, very delicate and serious situation that must be faced and addressed by a young man in "Meet The Parents," a hilarious comedy directed by Jay Roach and starring Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller. Greg (Stiller) is in love; he knows Pam (Teri Polo) is the one he wants to spend the rest of his life with, and is ready to propose. But certain circumstances clue him in to the fact that he should meet her parents first, approach her father, Jack (De Niro), and make the formal request, thereby extending him the respect he has come to understand Jack demands. Plans are made, and the weekend begins with the flight from Chicago to New York. And when a slight problem arises even before they board their plane, Greg should have seen it as an omen, because after that, absolutely nothing seems to go as planned. He finds Pam's mom, Dina (Blythe Danner), fairly accessible, but Jack turns out to be quite the formidable opponent, and from the minute they meet it becomes one long dance and spar of witticisms and revelations that make this one weekend Greg (and the audience) will never forget. What makes this movie so funny (and this IS one funny movie) is that the humor is character driven, situational and all very real; the laughs (and there are plenty) are all earned and are derived from inherently comical events and circumstances. The ongoing banter between Greg and Jack is clever, the dialogue is superb and delivered with such sly and subtle shadings that it rings true at every turn. And De Niro and Stiller play off of one another so perfectly and with such impeccable timing that it's like watching art come to life. Stiller is a master at playing comedy dead-pan straight, and De Niro proves to be his equal here. They never go after cheap laughs, and what little broad humor Roach employs evolves directly from the story and is never gratuitous or overdone; Roach and his cast let it all flow naturally and play it with a seriousness that makes it all the more hilarious. You can literally feel Greg's pain and discomfort as he tries in vain to stand tall and impress this intimidating figure of a man he hopes will soon be his own father-in-law. And De Niro makes Jack everything a suitor dreads in a prospective in-law; he doesn't merely scratch the surface of this character, but goes deep to make him a multi-layered personality, enigmatic and hard to read. You know instinctively that there's more to this guy than meets the eye, and given the fact that nobody is good enough in his eyes for his little girl, he is a nightmare waiting for any and all "Gregs" that may come a-calling. Polo is charming as Pam; she's charismatic, has great screen presence and a winning personality that makes her character likable and totally believable. In a supporting role, Owen Wilson gives a stand-out performance as Pam's ex-boyfriend, Kevin; he so wryly underplays him, and what he does contrasts so well with what De Niro and Stiller are doing that it makes him one of the most memorable characters in the film. Rounding out the excellent supporting cast are Nicole DeHuff (Debbie), Jon Abrahams (Denny), James Rebhorn (Larry) and Phyllis George (Linda). With "Meet The Parents," Roach leaves no doubt as to what he can do with a comedy; this film is filled with truly funny, memorable scenes and has an endless number of quotable lines, the best of which belongs to Jack (spoken to Greg ): "If I find that you are trying to corrupt my first born child, I will bring you down, baby, I will bring you down to Chinatown-" In the final analysis, it's all a lot of fun, and there are many things here with which many viewers will readily identify. This movie, in fact, may well be the perfect comedy; certainly it is nothing less than a modern-day classic that you do not want to miss.
  
  
• Gone in 60 seconds
  By A2W2Z8XPMGGJF9 on 2001-03-02
  This is one of the best movies ever to be released, it has action, comedy and extremely beautiful cars. From Nicholas Cage's acting to Angelina Jolie's looks, this movie has everything, a definate 5 stars!!!!!!!
  
  
• Meet The Parents: A Different Kind Of Comedy
  By on 2001-03-12
  I've noticed there are many negative reviews about Meet The Parents, and I just can't agree with them. I mean, those review writers can think whatever they want about the movie, but the movie actually did become a box-office smash, and then a best-seller on video and DVD, so their opinion is easily a minority. I've noticed that many of these reviews claim Meet The Parents just isn't funny, and that's understandable because Meet The Parents is definetly a different kind of comedy than many people are used to, like Mystery Science Theatre, for instance. I found the series and the movie hilarious, while some didn't quite get what was so funny about boring old movies and a guy and two robots talking the whole way through. Well, Meet The Parents is another comedy that doesn't quite fit in with the comedy genre we know and love, and I also found this movie hilarious, so it's easy to say I just look at movies different than others.

  Basically, the style of comedy that Meet The Parents utilizes is the kind of comedy at the expense of others, and the kind of comedy from another person's point of view. The comedy also branches off from the awkwardness mostly in the first half of the movie. The second half utilizes the kind of comedy that makes you laugh, but also makes you cringe at the same time. Everyone knows that feeling, but nobody can really describe it. It's the kind of feeling you get when you know there's a nasty boobytrap behind the door of the house your best friend is about to enter, or the kind of feeling you get when your family gasps at the sight of the wreckage of the priceless ming vase you accidentally broke. But if all these kinds of comedy are too complicated for you, don't worry, because there is also elements of flat-out comedy you don't need to be a rocket scientist to laugh at, like several airport gags at the expense of Greg, and pure Ben Stiller-style comedy, mainly in the scenes near the end, during and after an impressive, ongoing, and not to mention, funny, rant brilliantly executed by Ben Stiller, and the infamous survelliance tape final scene. Also, there is a funny running gag revolving around Greg's unfortunate last name, Focker, that just gets funnier and funnier, especially when Greg's real first name is revealed. (You don't want me to spoil the surprise, do you?)

  And, if you have good ears, listen for the gag in the very beginning of the movie, when the opening lyrics of Randy Newman's "A Fool In Love", make some funny comments on the opening Universal and Dreamworks logos. (Try turning the english subtitles on, it's very subtle and kind of hard to hear). And there is also a lot of drama in the movie, in case you were wondering. After the family finds out about all of Greg's lies, the movie becomes a real tear-jerker, until the airport rant, of course.

  So, this review pretty much sums up how this movie is a different kind of comedy not many people get. Well, I get it, and I just want to say I like it, and I hope to see more movies like this in the future.
  
  

• not even worth one star.
  By A193Y2OCU77HVY on 2001-03-21
  justan absolutly dissapointing flick. Don't waste your time.
  
  
• The Stooge Hand Book
  By AAH4ELJ8TMG9N on 2001-05-10
  This is the worst movie I've seen in a long time. It is nothing but a bunch of sight gags that are a few beats off the mark. The plot does not work, no one is funny, and it is an embarrassment to some fine actors. Don't waste your time.
  
  
• MEET THE PARENTS
  By on 2001-06-21
  THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A SLAP-STICK COMEDY THAT JUST DOESN'T MAKE IT. THE TIMING IS POOR AND TIMING IS WHAT COMEDY IS ALL ABOUT. I WONDER WHAT THE DIRECTOR WAS THINKING ABOUT AND THE CAST DIRECTOR WHEN THEY TRIED TO TURN ROBERT DE NIRO INTO A COMEDIAN. HE JUST DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO CREATE COMEDY IN HIS FACE. THE LOOK COMES OFF PHONEY.
  
  

• Meet the Fockers (Widescreen Edition)
• The 40-Year-Old Virgin (Unrated Widescreen Edition)
• Old School (Widescreen Unrated Edition)
• There's Something About Mary (Widescreen Edition)
• Bruce Almighty (Widescreen Edition)