One hilarious scene after another - what fun!

Rating: Null/10 (6 May 2007)

I haven't laughed out loud like this in awhile...
The plot goes somewhat like this - the Fokker family and Burns family are opposites in every sense - the Fokkers - the parents' of Ben Stiller's character in the movie - are Jewish, politically liberal, extremely open people who live in sunny Florida, where they're really enjoying life! Meanwhile, the Burns are Christian, conservative, and live in cold New England. You can imagine the gap that has to be bridged between these two families.
They might never have crossed paths (and probably would have been happier!) but their children fell in love in the Big Apple and are planning to marry.
Gaylord Fokker, played by Ben Stiller, has grown up to be a nurturer himself, just like his stay at home father. He's a gentle, caring, guy, whose committed to his fiancé, Pam Burns.
While Gaylord and Pam are in love and ready to take the plunge together, the trouble is, blending their families! Pam's father, Mr. Burns (played by Robert De Niro), is an ex-CIA member who is so difficult, uptight, and unwilling to accept his daughter's choice of husband, that he spends the whole movie trying to change her mind.
What unfolds when the Burns meet the Fokkers is one hilarious good time on screen! Scene after scene of faux pais (sp?) and blunders.
My only gripes with the movie was the timing. De Niro's hostile and rigid character should've gotten his come uppance a lot sooner in the movie! (And by the end of this movie, boy does he need it! You'll find yourself rooting for it too..)
The movie's written for audiences to empathize with Ben Stiller's character who's continually put to the test by his crazy father-in-law. Unlike in Meet the Parents, where Stiller's character hasn't quite found his footing in his relationship with the man, in this sequel, Stiller is unafraid and comes across as the better person between the two of them! It's refreshing to see the change!
Everybody did a fine job with the acting. De Niro's character comes around, there's a wedding finally, and a happy ending. Unfortunately, the transformation happens too quickly and late, just in the last five minutes of the movie. The audience isn't prepared for it but who cares - it's a hilarious movie!