Better than I'd Expected

Rating: Null/10 (13 August 2001)

My expectations for Meet the Parents weren't very high going into it, but I was pleasantly surprised by the time it was over. Its one of those great "disaster comedies," like What About Bob? (1991), when the protagonist arrives to a new place hoping for the best, but problem after problem arrives beyond his control, making our protagonist's life a living hell.

There are several differences between the two films, but in Meet the Parents, the protagonist is being thwarted in every way by his girlfriend's father (Robert DeNiro, perfectly cast), an intimidating former CIA agent who is determined to prove that he (Greg, played by Ben Stiller) isn't good enough for her.
Many of the jokes in this film don't go "bang," which is probably why mainstream audiences were somewhat disappointed by it. The key to many of the jokes is in how predictable each is. Such as an innocent little volleyball game in a pool, or a situation with a missing dog. We discover how each little conflict will backfire against Greg before it happens, leaving us laughing before the actual event and laughing harder when it strikes.
DeNiro and Stiller have impeccable comic timing here. DeNiro plays a character we love to hate, and his character gets the best of Greg in every situation. Watching his reactions to Greg's goof-ups are as funny as it gets.
I recommend you don't enter this film with high expectations. It's a film that is simply fun and nothing more.
O O O O O O O 1/2