Some More Readers Meet MEET THE FOCKERS!!

Hey Harry:

This is the first time I have written to your site - back in the heyday of movie screenings, I used to write to Cinescape online, but they weren't too nice after a while (don't ask). Anyway, I just saw and advance screening of "Meet the Fockers," so here is my quickie review/overview of the film, with some blunt pundits and plaunders to note.

First off, I will say that when I saw the original in theatres (and then again on home video), I enjoyed the fact that director Jay Roach played with the same techniques of character frustration that made "What About Bob" so fantastic. I love the fact that he got Robert De Niro to play Ben Stiller's fiance's father. I liked the little gags in the movie because they made sense given De Niro's character, Jack Byrnes. He is a former CIA agent, and he uses his techniques to infiltrate the mind of Ben Stiller. All of that made the first film work. What makes the sequel work, or at times not work, is the fact that the film practically goes with a completely different theme and character focus.

"Meet the Fockers" is at times funny, with a few big laughs near the middle. Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand (don't laugh...for the wrong reason) are actually what makes this film work as a whole. Barbra was actually fantastic in this film - she plays a sexual therapist for elderly couples, and uses her skills throughout the movie to help the Byrnes parents with their tension. Dustin Hoffman originally wasn't who I thought would have been the best choice for Ben Stiller's dad (Christopher Walken, anyone?), but as it turns out, there was nobody else who could have been better. The jokes that insue at the first family dinner party are pretty funny, where the Focker parents go into great detail of Greg's childhood (including a "Wall of Mediocrity," as proclaimed by De Niro - a wall of trophies and ribbons from Greg's childhood made by his parents that show his accomplishments, such as 9th place ribbons. "I didn't realize they made ribbons for ninth place," proclaims De Niro.)

Despite focusing more on the Focker family, each character is given something to do. Teri Polo, playing Greg's fiance, still isn't that focused or central of a character, but the Focker parents themselves become the focal point of the film, and Jack Byrnes is still the main antagonist to Greg's protagonist.

The only real problems I have with the film are that it takes a little long for the film to get started. The final running time was nearly 2 hours, and it felt like it was about 15 minutes too long the way it was. There are some funny moments, including an over-demanding cop with a tazer, played by "O Brother Where Art Thou" actor Tim Blake Nelson. There are too many slow parts, and surprisingly not enough gags. Usually I would dislike more a movie with a lot of sight gags and not enough real story moments, but this film needed a couple more, and a couple more good ones at that. There are a lot of cliches, and predictabilities as well - the humping dog (which you know is going to take advantage of Mr. Jinx), the father rivalries (Dustin Hoffman owns), and the great sight gag involving Greg's childhood adult lover and a future life being, that was great but was very confusing in the beginning when it first approaches (I won't say what it is because it is actually pretty funny and plays out through the film well - it's just that it isn't approached very well and can be very confusing for some audiences for a little too long).

I will recommend this film to those who like the first one and the characters. For anyone going to see a movie because it has Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro in it, they may enjoy some moments but be altogether bored at times or wondering why Greg Focker isn't the main character in the film.

It has slow moments, and long periods between some laughs, but the laughs that it does have are genuine and sincerly comedic. It has some smart moments that aren't "slap your knee" funny, but are funny because they are set up to be and play out well. Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand are fantastic as the Fockers, Robert De Niro's Jack Byrnes becomes a little frustrating to watch at times and actually cliches his character from the first one (which is odd for De Niro to do in any role - make cliched his part). Ben Stiller has some funny moments and Teri Polo is almost forgotten except for her announcment of the coming of a future Focker. Even Blythe Danner is given a bigger part as Pam's mom, and she plays her character well. Still, the main characters are the Fockers, and they are great. The rest of the film just needs to come together a little more and trim a little of the loose air from the beginning and the middle.

As is, 6 out of 10. After some trimming, I feel the film could be an 8 out of 10.

XP-Dracon

Hey Moriarty,

I am a long time watcher of all things aintitcool, and I just came back from a sceening of the movie Meet the Parents 2, Meet the Fockers last night in Thousand Oaks, CA. SO I figured I should throw you guys a few words about the film.

Theres some spoilers so be warned.

First off, its a great film, not he best, but definately up there with the first one. I am a big fan of the first movie, and on general I like Jay Roach's films, so I figured I'd get a kick out of this one.

So lets just say that Jay uses the same strategy in this on as the first film. If you liked the first movie, you'll like this one. Very much how Autsin Powers II used the same gags as Austin Powers, this movie borrows alot of the comedy from the first movie. It also has alot of references to the first film, so I would recommend seeing it again just for the extra gags that you might not remember. So its good....but also it can be tiresome, as it isnt as fresh, original as Meet the Parents. For me some of the best parts of Meet the Parents is painfully watching Ben Stiller go through such torment when he meets the family. This movie doesnt have those awkward moments, its got alot more gags and the pacing is good, but its not painful to watch (like the BBC show the Office) which I was dissapointed a bit in.

Let me also say, I LOVED Dustin Hoffman in this film. He definately steals the show. He is a prefect foil to Bobby DeNiro, and I think people will really be into his performance. Another great cast was Streisand. She was very good and you really warm up quickly to Ben's parents, if anything everyone except DeNiro's character you care about. Deniro does a great job, but he doesnt grow as much and just hits the same notes throughout almost all of the film.

The ending is good, and theres some cameos from the first one, that I think people will really enjoy, especially Owen Wilson who does his usual shitck.

So overall it was a very good film, all fans of the first one will really enjoy this one, I do think it usues alot of the same gags but its funny, just as Austin Powers II was. not as great as the first.

Oh, and the best part was afterwards, in our little focus group, I met Jay Raoch and shook his hand and he told me, "Dont worry, I liked the first Meet the Parents better too" Iaughed and felt a little better that I didnt offend him with my comments.

call me Falanius.

thanks M

Overall, it sounds like people are enjoying it, and Jay Roach has proven himself a capable conductor of sequel mayhem in the past. We’ll see this Christmas...

"Moriarty" out.