Right, that's it, the wedding's off

Rating: Null/10 (18 January 2001)

This highly enjoyable comedy is based on a simple premise that we can all easily relate too, the first efforts of someone to introduce their partner to the prospective in-laws. Even if you haven't had this problem directly, it's easy to empathise, and surely everyone has been in the awkward situation of being a guest in someone's house and being petrified of putting a foot wrong. There is plenty of scope for humour with this situation and there are also several great set pieces as the weekend takes a turn for the disastrous. Even when they seem fairly predictable, each one hits home and gives a great payoff.
Ben Stiller plays pretty much the same kind of role here as he did in 'There's Something About Mary', but that's no problem as his everyman likeability means you root for him throughout his tribulations. As Greg Fokker, he is desperate to impress his girlfriend's dad with a view to asking him for his blessing for her hand in marriage. Robert De Niro is great as the father who is not everything he first seems, and shows a knack for comic timing which you wouldn't expect of such a heavyweight actor.
Even if the ending is slightly contrived, it's great fun getting there with laughs aplenty. One for those who can reminisce and those who will be filled with dread anticipation alike.