"Meet the Parents": Joyless, Stressful and Irritating (just like real life)

Rating: Null/10 (1 April 2001)

I STILL don't know what "Meet the Parents" was trying to tell me. Was it a comedy? I don't think so, for I found myself more and more irritated as the film progressed---this is another of those sophomoric flicks in which the characters bungle greatly, and then endeavor to SURPASS each bungle with a greater one, until the plot dissolves into pure chaos. In "Meet the Parents," I'm strongly reminded of "Blind Date" (with Bruce Willis and Kim Bassinger)---same sort of uncomfortable, unfulfilling character exchanges, totally predictable storyline, and enough half-baked, poorly directed physical comedy to make you urp your granola. If the intent of "Meet the Parents" was to fill the audience with the same sense of loathing as ACTUALLY MEETING your future in-laws, then the film succeeded. But it wasn't funny--just obnoxious.

Hi-Velocity