A complete disappointment

Rating: 1/10 (31 January 2005)

First of all, I have to say I am not a fan of art movies, in fact, I enjoy light-weight movies. With that being said, let me put it straight - Fockers is an embarrassing and stupid movie.
I wasn't expecting a masterpiece or a hilarious comedy. However, I did hope to give a few laughs. The movie ended and I had not even SMILED. I was shocked by the number of old, rude and recycled jokes, none of them really funny. Just plain stupid and preposterous.
While Meet the Parents was cute, naive and entertaining, this Fockers is a test for the patience. I mean, who above 10 years-old can laugh at those impossible situations ? What about that baby ? The van which looked like the Batman car ? The police officer ? The maid with the Spanish accent who was Ben's first sex relation ? Do we need more prejudice than that ? I kept expecting a gay character to come along.
I wonder who is worst in this film. Ben Stiller is just AWFUL. I don't like him at all but he manages to be even worse than his average - can it be possible ? yes, it could. Talk about acting classes. His bride, Pam, is a nobody at the film. Pam's mother is wasted. I was sad to see Robert De Niro in that role. He ruins every scene with those faces and fake mannerisms.
Well, now there's Barbra ... There is certainly a limit to what an actor can do for money and she crossed it without thinking twice. She and Hoffman are the only acceptable things in Fockers but they can't save the day. They do have a nice chemistry but it's impossible to deal with that lousy screenplay. I felt sorry for being a Streisand fan, I really did. We have come to expect excellence from her and what do we get ?!?! Fockers ? Her first film after so many years ? I really blushed in that scene where she has her breasts covered with cream. That's not funny, that's stupidity in its highest level. She could have used her verbal brilliance (the same one we see in What's Up, Doc?) but she never does. Anyone could have been Roz Focker, Streisand didn't bring much to the role, at least, not any of the things we have come to love her for.
Anyway, the comparison between Parents and Fockers is inevitable. The first one was quite funny. Fockers is a true waste of time, good actors and money.
On a scale from 1 to 5, I give it a 1 1/2 just because of Hoffman and Streisand. I considered leaving the theater several times throughout the movie, I just didn't because of Barbra and the hope that the film would improve, which never did. It is hard to believe Fockers will possibly be the highest-grossing comedy of all times in the USA.