|
| . |
|
Meet the Parents 2000 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by Jay Roach
PG-13, 107 min. (sexual content, drug references, language) |
 |
Starring: Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, Nicole DeHuff, Jon Abrahams, James Rebhorn, Phyllis George, Owen Wilson
Producers: N. Tenenbaum, J. Roach, R. De Niro, Jane Rosenthal
Screenplay: James Herzfeld, John Hamburg
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Released: 10/6/00 (Wide) |
Rating:
  (out of ) |
Meeting the in-laws for the first time can be a harrowing experience, and this is the backdrop for Ben Stiller's latest comedy,
Meet the Parents. Casting is the most important part of this film, and, for the most part, it got it right. Robert De Niro playing
the suspicious and over-protective father is a good move, especially with his gangster-type image in the movies. It makes his
character very believable, and seems to be a good match for Stiller. This casting pays off with a hilarious movie, and, though at
times it's a little slow, still has a reward for those who are patient.
Stiller plays Greg Focker (yes Focker), a male nurse, who desperately wants to marry Pam Byrnes (Teri Polo). He almost proposes
to her, when she mentions that she wouldn't marry someone who hadn't asked her father for permission first. This leads to
them visiting her parents, which leads to her father Jack (De Niro). Jack is immediately concerned about Greg, especially after
finding out that he hates cats. The cat, by the way, is one of the stars of the film. One disaster after another ensues, leaving
Greg in an almost impossible position of saving a possible marriage. Gregs ends up in a polygraph chair, and is administered
the lie-detector test by none other than Jack. The end of the movie is a little formulaic, but it still works.
The one drawback to this picture, although not that important, is the lack of chemistry between Stiller and Polo, supposed lovers.
It just isn't there, as it is between De Niro and his wife, Blythe Danner. Owen Wilson, however, gives probably the best
performance of the film as Pam's ex-boyfriend. He is funny, and, at times, carries the movie.
Although not at the level of There's Something About Mary, this film accomplishes its task of delivering laughs and entertaining
you for most of the picture. You won't be disappointed with Meet the Parents, and if you like cats, you'll enjoy it even more.
© 2000 Jonathan Cornwell
|
|
| Masterpiece - Classic; Movie perfection |
| Excellent - A Must See; One of the year's best films |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
© 2000 - present ReelCriticReviews
All movie pictures are registered trademarks and/or copyrights of their respective holders
Their use on this site is for informational purposes only and does not imply ownership
|
