repetitive of original, but funny nonetheless

Rating: 7/10 (1 June 2005)

SPOILERS In 2000, as he continued to regress (having originally started with comedy), Robert De Niro appeared in mediocre comedy "Meet the Parents". Playing former CIA man Jack Byrnes, De Niro was the highlight in an occasionally funny, but most irritating little film. Four years later, and not surprising considering the success of the original, and a sequel was released. Reuniting the old cast, with a few new additions, "Meet the Fockers" is a repetitive version of the original film, albeit with fresh laughs.
Happily living with Pam Byrnes (Teri Polo), Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) is implanted into his menacing future step-father's circle of trust. With the wedding around the corner though, things begin to get complicated when strict conservative Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro) comes face to face with Greg's liberal hippy parents Bernie (Dustin Hoffman) and Roz (Barbra Streisand).
In her first film appearance for eight years, Barbra Streisand is one of many positives to come out of "Meet the Fockers". As sex therapist Roz Focker, Streisand is often hilarious, and always on top of her game.
Part of the successful return of veteran Streisand is definitely down the simple fact that she works so unbelievably well with on screen husband Dustin Hoffman. Hoffman is a screen legend and over the years, whilst putting in some magnificent serious performances, he has always been finest at comedy. Films like "Tootsie" and "The Graduate" have shown Hoffman's talent and in the "Fockers" he doesn't disappear. Combined, these two newcomers to the past feel like old regulars and before long you feel like you've known them for years.
Not wanting to be outdone though, it's also worth pointing out that returning cast members De Niro, Polo, Stiller, Blythe Danner and Owen Wilson (in a hilarious brief cameo) are all on top form, never putting a foot wrong and providing us with some classic moments. Stiller in particular is once more great as Greg Focker as he grows further into the role and attempts to unite the warring families.
Aside from the superb acting, it's worth focusing on the key aspect of "Meet the Fockers". As a sequel, often the story of this film is a rehash of sketches used to effect in the first film. Referring to the predecessor on many occasions, it has a scene with a baby replacing a scene with a cat, scenes of arrest in remarkable similarity to previous scenes of arrest, and countless other jokes done in the previous film which are now replayed in an almost spoof like way.
The weird thing therefore about "Meet the Fockers" is that despite most of it's jokes being rehashed equivalents of the previous film, it feels strangely more entertaining. Causing a larger number of belly laughs than the previous film, it's not an original work by any stretch of the imagination, but it IS funny.
New cast members and rehashed jokes don't sound like the best plans for a sequel, but amazingly in "Meet the Fockers" they work. Brilliantly acted by all, the film never ceases to poke fun at the original film, whilst simultaneously creating some excellent moments of laughter. It may not be original entertainment, but "Meet the Fockers" is certainly fun to watch.