Meet the Fockers

Rating: 3/10 (23 March 2008)

Even though I had no memory of the previous film, besides the obvious moments (e.g. dropping the mother's ashes), I had a feeling this wasn't going to be better. From director Jay Roach (Austin Powers) this sequel has its tiny moments of hilarity, but not enough concentration on a story. Basically Gaylord Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) has had to put up with meeting the parents of his fiancée Pam Byrnes (Teri Polo), more prominently the uptight ex-CIA father Jack (Robert De Niro). But now he has to deal with Pam's parents meeting Greg's before any wedding can take place. Greg's father Bernie (Dustin Hoffman) is the retired hippie lawyer, and his mother Roz (Barbra Streisand) is the open sex therapist. Greg obviously wants to keep his dignity, and make the Byrnes accept them, and the fact that they will have to get along after the wedding, if there's gonna be one! Also starring Blythe Danner as Dina Byrnes, Tim Blake Nelson as Officer Le Flore and Owen Wilson as Kevin Rawley. As I said, there are some amusing moments, most of them coming from Hoffman and Streisand, but I don't think anyone should bother with this film, apart from seeing the couple get married of course, a disappointing comedy sequel. Adequate!