Meet the Parents (2000)

Time to meet one very funny movie...
I am one who fully believes `Meet the Parents' to be one hysterical ride. From start to finish they get everything right here. The entire cast works wonderfully together and serves up some of the funniest moments in comedic film to date. Of all the `go-to' guys in Hollywood for comedy I think that Ben Stiller is probably the most bankable. Sure, I tend to enjoy Will Ferrell slightly more than Stiller but one can't deny that Stiller equals bank. Everything he touches (or just about) is box-office gold. `Meet the Parents' is no exception, but here the funniest member of the cast is not Stiller. No, De Niro steals the thunder here delivering one of the funniest performances I've seen in recent years.

The film follows one zany weekend with the Byrnes family. Greg is dating Pam Byrnes. Greg wants to marry Pam but when he hears that Pam's sister Deborah is getting married and that her fiancé asked her father Jack for permission Greg feels that he must now get permission. How hard could that be, right? Wrong. Jack Byrnes is a very strict and gruff man. It's obvious that Pam is his golden child and no one will ever be good enough for her. Pam's mother Dina is the complete opposite, in fact she seems to really like Greg, but in the eyes of Jack Greg is far from good enough for Pam.

The film them becomes a domino effect of one landed gag after another as Greg tries to prove himself worthy of Pam's hand. Yes, each and every joke finds a home. I was surprised myself at how funny this movie actually was. The sequel was less successful (I loved it but it does feel like a repeat) but this original is high on the entertainment value.

Ben Stiller nails his role as the hapless Greg who just wants to be accepted and marry the girl of his dreams. Teri Polo is kind of left on the back burner here. She's mainly there to be the object of affection but since she isn't really given anything to do we become bored with her most of the time. Don't let that get you down though since she never is allowed to drag down a scene. Blythe Danner is hysterical as Dina but like I mentioned before, this movie is all about Robert De Niro. I have always been a huge fan of De Niro but sadly his choice in film has taken a dive recently. This film probably marks his last `great' performance. He is on point the entire film and genuinely scene stealing hilarious. He delivers each and every line with polish and charisma and a believable sincerity that you need to have when you're most frequent word is `Focker'.

The end of the film of course brings the family closer together after Jack tries to sabotage everything and learns his lesson. I think that resolve is why `Meet the Fockers' fails a bit to me since it seems like a complete renig on the finale of this film. Regardless, `Meet the Parents' should serve as Grade-A entertainment for the family and should result in quite a few belly-laughs.

Stiller gets the best actors at the lowest points in their carrier
You have some of the most famous entertainers in this throw away predictable comedy. I guess the scripts aren't out there so they have to lower themselves to do these formula comedies that might be funny to a seventh grader. The name gives you an indication of what's to come "Fockers" I could hear Bevis and Butthead laughing at this word because it sounds dirty. The movie isn't any better with its boring sophomoric humor. Once you've see a Ben Stiller movie you don't really have to see any of his other films because they are basically the same format and are as predictable as his other films. This one is like the "Meet the Fockers" with 2 more "Once Great" entertainers. It seems like if you are an actor or singer on your way out you stop and do a Stiller film before you go. Sad!

funniest movie I ever saw
This is one of my favorite movies in the last ten years. I watch it once a year for a good laugh. It's a classic. The only problem I have with this movie was the "Jerusalem tulip" gag. Does such a flower exist?