Barnes & Noble

The surprising success of Meet the Parents (2000) made a sequel inevitable, and it shouldn't come as a shock that Fockers recycles many of the earlier film's most memorable gags. What makes it special is the "stunt casting" of Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand as the wacky parents of Ben Stiller's Greg Focker. The story begins as Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro) and his wife, Dina (Blythe Danner), are preparing to visit the rustic home of Bernie and Roz Focker to celebrate the impeding marriage of their daughter, Pam (Teri Polo), to Greg. Straitlaced ex-spy Jack isn't very much impressed with the aging-hippie antics of the Fockers, who aren't afraid to openly discuss topics most in-laws would rather leave unexplored. Greg is a nervous wreck because he's convinced his sweet but eccentric parents will do something to traumatize Jack and Pam. Without giving away more of the plot, let's just say that his fears are justified. Director Jay Roach, who helmed the original film, reserves his ingenuity for putting a fresh spin on tired but still potent gags. There's not much evidence that his contributions extended to modulate the performances of Hoffman and Streisand, who are both pretty much over the top -- although, in fairness, the script more or less predetermined that. De Niro, not the most gifted comic actor, plainly looks uncomfortable as the butt of so many jokes, but he's pretty good as the uptight square opposite an unrestrained Hoffman. Stiller, who has mastered the comedy of embarrassment -- he's certainly had enough practice -- manages to stand out even when surrounded by all these old pros. In fact, he actually grounds the movie. Meet the Fockers can be faulted for relying on the obvious and settling for easy laughs, but on balance it's an affable time-killer that will warrant revisiting at periodic intervals. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

After suffering the humiliation of being given the third degree by his girlfriend's father, one man now faces the even more embarrassing task of introducing his own mother and father in this star-studded sequel to the box-office smash Meet the Parents. After getting off on the wrong foot (to put it mildly) with his prospective in-laws, Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) has finally won the grudging approval of Jack and Dina Byrnes (Robert De Niro and Blythe Danner) to marry their daughter Pam (Teri Polo). But after clearing the first hurdle, now Greg has to face an even bigger challenge -- introducing the straight-laced Byrnes family to his folks, free-spirited sex therapist Roz (Barbra Streisand) and eccentrically open-minded Bernie, who blend with Pam's parents not quite as well as oil and water. Meet the Fockers was directed by Jay Roach, who handled the same chores for Meet the Parents. Mark Deming

Product Details

• UPC: 025192582325
• Source: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Theatre Wide-Screen (1.85.1)
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• Language: English, Español, Français
• Subtitles: Español, Français
• Time: 1:56:00
• Sales Rank: 4,539

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Meet the Parents & Meet the Fockers: Circle of Trust Collection

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