Meet the Fockers Review
by Homer Yen (homer_yen AT yahoo DOT com)January 18th, 2005
"Meet the Fockers" – Outside the Circle of Trust by Homer Yen
(c) 2004
We first met the unfortunately named Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) back in 2000's "Meet the Parents" when his insuperable goal was to try to make a good impression as he meets his
future father-in-law, Jack (Robert DeNiro). In
that first film, Greg was determined to win him over, and it was this desire and the absurd situations that he consequently found himself in that fueled that movie. "Meet the Fockers" is the comedy sequel reuniting the two prospective in-laws. It has been a tenuous relationship, and Jack has reluctantly allowed Greg to enter his Circle of Trust. But now it's time for all the parents to meet. And here, we get to meet Greg's dad, Bernie (Dustin Hoffman) and mom, Roz (Barbara Streisand). It'll be a monumental clash in personalities.
Jack is militaristic, ever-untrusting, and overbearing. He expects excellence. Even his RV is a stunner. It's blueprint was either adapted from a cruise ship or the Starship Enterprise.
With its soundproof cockpit, secret command center, and ample space, it's ready for any battle that may take place within any retirement community.
The Focker parents are the complete opposite.
Bernie is a practical joker who constantly tests Jack's patience. And Roz is a sex therapist for seniors. There home looks to have been inherited from Mr. Roarke and Tattoo. These different folks certainly do lend itself to potentially hilarious situations along the lines of Gene Hackman and Robin Williams in "The Birdcage."
But something's wrong. In the original film, Greg tries too hard to please. Here, he works hard to restrain his parents who have an unabashed zest for life. If his parents were allowed to let loose, then we could have some serious laughs. For the most part, though, it feels as if the scenarios are being set up and ideas do abound. But the execution is like watching a circus performer walk a tightrope.
Sure, it can be very funny to catch the Focker parents play one of their bedtime games, which involves costumes and whipped cream. But then they are urged to stop. Instead, why not have them gallivant throughout the house for all to see? That would probably be funnier.
It begins to feel so subdued that the plot has to resort to a radical tactic. Just before Greg is to give his speech to all of his family and friends, he is injected with truth serum.
However, instead of exploding with material to provide us with the hearty laughs that we've been waiting for, he sounds more like a person in therapy in one of those 12-step groups. The potentially best scene falls flat.
And the jokes frequently fall around sex and the male genitalia. There are statues with abnormal phalli, there are books with racy names, and Bernie seems to need to go into a dissertation about his testicles and vasectomy.
I welcome the easy-going Barbara Streisand who hits all the right notes in her role and looks the most at-ease. From a product placement point of view, the Baby Einstein Sign Language thingamajig is really creative. But as a comedy, the funniness never hits critical mass. It's genial enough, and with all that star power, there is enough energy to churn out a few smiles.
But they are far and few in between. As a reliable comedy, this offering falls outside my Circle of Trust.
Grade: C
S: 1 out of 3
L: 1 out of 3
V: 1 out of 3
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