The phoenix of humiliation rises again for the masses

Rating: 6/10 (25 February 2006)

Gliding on the good graces of its predecessor, this new installment has very little to showcase in the way of ground breaking comedy. Not that anyone would expect a sequel to 'Meet the Parents' as being a 'departure film' or a film that would ever titillate its audience with anything close to resembling an 'over the line' type of comedy. No, this film is just a very safe and predictable sequel.
This sequel force feeds us the chronic Ben Stiller humiliation angle scene after scene. Adding to the comedic clockwork, the producer and or director (or whatever moron in charge), decided to work in the 'baby genius' sub plot into every 7th minute of the film. As if that wasn't enough dumbing down, we're all supposed to be delighted by the dog and cat show that takes place inside DeNiro's 'home on wheels'. The fact that the punch line to this dog and cat chase joke is predicated on one of the animals landing inside the toilet, seems an appropriate place, the proper level if you will, where this film seems most at home.
Infants that are more intelligent than adults, cats that are smarter than dogs, how could this film succeed? Well, it can't succeed. However, I have to admit to one thing about this film being good. The performances of Barbara Streisand and Dustin Hoffman were good. I was surprised to see a return to comic form from Barbara Streisand. She really should have been making comedy/musicals these past few years...er...decades. Comedy really suits her. Both her performance and Hoffman's are surprisingly good.
Not to take anything away from DeNiro who is also likable, but I was more interested in the 'wacky' hi-jinks between Streisand and Hoffman.
Here's the thing. The movie is enjoyable, but I rolled my eyes way too much for me to consider this a great comedy. It's a comedy that is very much by the numbers, for the numbers.
If you don't mind a comedy that works down to Mall level, where you can see the jokes coming, then watch it on DVD.
I would have given this movie a 5/10, but Streisand and Hoffman were a pleasant enough surprise. I didn't hate this movie, I just didn't like it all that much.