Four words to convince you to see it: "Streisand does screwball comedy"

Rating: 7/10 (12 November 2005)

I am of mixed minds when it comes to Barbra Streisand (see my long,involved screed about "The Mirror Has Two Faces"), but I will readily admit two things in her favor: the woman can sing the *ss off of a Broadway show tune, and the woman can play screwball comedy to perfection.
That's why I like "Meet The Fockers" so much. Yes, the film is actually fairly sweet and sympathetic within its "comedic farce" settings. Yes, Robert DeNiro is compelling yet funny as an ex-CIA man who is wrapped a little too tight. Yes, there are plenty of gross-out jokes, and plenty of silly word plays and puns on the Focker family name. Yes, Dustin Hoffman is great in a very broadly played role (watching his character practice Capoeira is a hoot).
But the real pleasure here is watching Streisand do what she does best on screen: real screwball comedy. Not romantic comedy ("Mirror Has Two Faces", which was for fans only), not romantic drama ("A Star Is Born"), not all those other genres she tackled because she wanted to be Taken Seriously...but simple, funny comedy in which she puts aside her need to be regarded as A Great Beauty (30 Years Younger Than Her Real Age) and simply plays a somewhat dippy, marvelously warm and funny older mother. She is every bit of Hoffman's and DeNiro's match, and she almost totally overwhelms poor Stiller and the other female leads.
She's great. She's funny. She's adorable. She's doing what she does best. The movie is worth seeing just to see her (and Hoffman) in action.
If you are any kind of fan of her early, funny movies ("What's Up Doc?", "Funny Girl"), you should check out "Meet The Fockers". You will find much to enjoy, along with a pretty fair family comedy.