Meet The Fockers

A Family Film You Souldn't Watch With The Family

Director: Jay Roach
Release Date: 2004
Rating: 12
Running Time: 110mins
Genre: Comedy
Actors: Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Barbara Streisand

'We've "Fockerised" him'

After Gaylord 'Greg' Focker (Ben Stiller) met his uptight soon to be father-in-law Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro) where he endured much disastrous and horrifying circumstances, he was finally able to win his trust and approval leading Greg to believe the hard part was over. Little did he know the hard part was still to come when he must introduce the uptight Jack to his sex-crazed hippie parents Bernard and Roz (Dustin Hoffman and Barbara Streisand). If you thought Meet The Parents was hilariously shocking and disasterous then Meet The Fockers will show you just how uncomfortable and unlucky Greg's life can be.

Four years on from meeting Pam's Parents and getting engaged, things still haven't changed much for Greg, he's still longing for Jacks approval and Pam and Greg are still unmarried, the time finally comes for the Byrnes' to meet the Fockers leading to more cringe worthy and toe curling laugh out loud scenes. For me the best thing about the second instalment of the series was how incredibly different the two families turn out to be and the way that Greg's parents can't be any further away from what Jack was hoping for.

Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand offered a unbelievably hilarious performance from start to finish with just fantastic chemistry and hugely quirky personalities. When comparing Robert De Niro with Dustin Hoffman you couldn't have hoped for two better actors to pull of the highly contrasted roles they both play. We see Bernard and Jack constantly bickering whilst also for the sake of the kids, trying to get on with one another and in somehow relate to one another, I think it's fair to say that their relationship makes Jack's first encounter with Greg to be fairly accepting. I love the irony in how Greg and Pam's parents could not further away from one another in terms of personality, interests and table talk, consequently leading to a horrifying yet hilarious accident involving a fondant pot and an old scrap book.

I think it's fair to say that despite 'Meet The Fockers' being a film about family, it's definitely one that you should avoid actually watching with the family due to the awkward and slightly uncomfortable events that transpire throughout the film. Nevertheless, it's definitely a film worth watching if you haven't already as it is so outrageously brilliant, teaching us that maybe it's not a good idea to meet the parents and especially not a good idea to introduce them to the Fockers.

6/10