Stiller and DeNiro make good foils for one another in 'Meet the Parents'

Rating: 8/10 (2 April 2005)

Meet the Parents (2000) Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, Nicole DeHuff, Jon Abrahams, James Rebhorn, Phyllis George, Owen Wilson, D: Jay Roach. A hapless male nurse spends a weekend with her girlfriend's parents during her sister's wedding, hoping to ask her uptight father, an ex-CIA agent, for her hand in marriage . . . but he's intimidated by her dad along with being caught in many errors to ruin his chances. There's rarely a humorless moment in this entertaining comedy, where the situation leaves for plenty of funny moments and maintains a satisfying comedic momentum. With great chemistry, Stiller works well as a comic foil to De Niro, who plays it straight but still gives off a hilarious comedy performance without being too serious. Followed by a sequel. 107 min., rated PG-13. ***