A slapstick sitcom version that is a shadow of its predecessor

Rating: Null/10 (22 December 2004)

When you're making a sequel to a very successful movie, you've really got a lot to live up to. Some sequels take that challenge and work hard to live up to or exceed expectations. Even if the sequel doesn't exceed the original, you hope it'll at least give a valiant effort. Meet the Fockers, however, went with a different approach. It takes everything that worked in the first movie, throws it out the door, and substitutes it with lame, formulaic, and repetitive gags.
Don't believe me? Here are a few jokes that were not only run into the ground, but were buried 10 feet beneath it and covered with cement: * A dog humping stuff. Is that still considered funny? If you think so, then is it funny to repeat the gag about 5 times WITHIN ONE MOVIE??? If you think so, then may I ask why you set your comedic bar so low? * Barbra Streisand is a sex therapist. Oooh look, she works with old people! She teaches them how to lap dance! Hardy har. I wasn't able to laugh at that because I was too busy trying to avoid throwing up on the person sitting in front of me. Plus, Streisand has lots of sex books and statues, so you know that's rife with unoriginal jokes that we've seen plenty of times in other less-than-spectacular movies. And folks, the last thing I needed to see in life was Streisand's boobs covered in whip cream. Sheesh. Well, maybe that's not the *last* thing I needed to see, but it's not high on my list.
* Dustin Hoffman is a big IL' goof-ball! Wackiness and goofiness is fine, but within the context of this movie it would've worked better if it were done in a believable fashion. Hoffman's character sits on the toilet while De Niro takes a shower ... IN THE SAME BATHROOM! Is that believable? Hoffman's character used to be a lawyer, so you'd assume he'd have some sort of intelligence. Now if De Niro had gotten out of the shower and straight-up kicked Hoffman in the face, then THAT would've been funny, but he just politely asks for some privacy. And come on, am I really expected to laugh when Hoffman dances and falls into a food table? That's the best the writers could come up with? I suppose that might work in a high school skit on "club day," but it really doesn't cut it when you're making a major motion picture.
* The overuse of puns on the "Focker" name. Been there, done that. Something new, clever, and original would've been nice.
There was a lot of potential here. You knew Stiller's parents had to be crazy, so there was room for loads of laughs once they met up with Mr. CIA Robert De Niro. Unfortunately, it's a concept that is much better in theory than it was in its execution. Hoffman and Streisand just didn't do it for me, plus the fact that I inherently dislike Streisand didn't help.
I still think they should've used Jerry Stiller (Ben's real dad) and Estelle Harris. If you remember, they were George Costanza's parents on Seinfeld, and they're two of the most dysfunctional parents to ever appear on television. I think they (or two characters who were similarly neurotic) would've worked much better.
There are some laughs here but nothing to compare to the original. I was never really bored, but I never did more than politely chuckle or smile. Were my expectations too high? Not really because I didn't expect this to be as good as the first. My main disappointment comes from knowing that this *could* have been really good.
I know a lot of people at the screening really enjoyed it. I guess some people are just more willing to settle for a slapstick sitcom version that is a shadow of its predecessor than I am.
THE GIST Meet the Fockers isn't horrible, and I never felt compelled to sprint for the exit (except for when Streisand was teaching the old people how to lap dance), but there just aren't any sidesplitting, aisle-rolling guffaws here. If you don't set your comedic bar very high, then you may be satisfied. But if, like me, you're a big fan of Meet the Parents, then you, like I, might be sorely disappointed with this sequel.
I would suggest waiting to make this a rental, but if you're dying to see it on the big screen then make it a matinée.