Typical bad sequel with pathetic attempts to top the original

Rating: 1/10 (28 December 2004)

This movie ranks right up there with some of the worst comedy sequels of all time. Other ones in the same league that come to mind are Caddyshack II, Vegas Vacation, Beverly Hills Cop III, Blues Brothers 2000, and the long list of comedy sequels that were so pathetic that they had no business bearing the same name as the originals.
The constant sex jokes involving Hoffman's and Streisand's characters, the tired uses of the last name Focker as attempts at jokes, and the many attempts at one-upping the original with recycled over-the-top versions of the same jokes made this movie flat-out painful to watch. The topper was the illegitimate child thing involving Gaylord's affair with the Focker's housekeeper at 19 (in which he lost his virginity--and the Focker parents would be proud of him for this??). The truth serum scene at the party goes down as one of the most painfully unfunny scenes in cinematic history.
The sad thing is, there should be plenty of possibilities for humor when it comes to a story of in-laws meeting. This movie misfires on almost all attempts, however--and with even more in the way of stars than the first. Stiller can be funny when the writing doesn't get in the way, and really only Teri Polo maintains any credibility throughout this flick. I wouldn't waste a minute of your life with this movie, but if you must, at least wait until it is shown on TV.