Release Date: 30 December 2004

Synopsis:

Four years ago, audiences were invited to come along with male nurse Greg (a.k.a. Gaylord) Focker (BEN STILLER) on a weekend as he lost his luggage, set the backyard on fire, went a little over-the-top in a game of water volleyball, spray painted the cat and was administered a lie-detector test by Jack Byrnes (ROBERT DE NIRO), his girlfriend’s father (who turned out to be not a horticulturalist, but an ex-CIA operative reluctant to allow Greg into The Byrnes Family Circle of Trust) in the blockbuster comedy Meet the Parents.

Now, Greg has managed to earn his way inside the Circle of Trust and things are going great. He and his fiancée Pam (TERI POLO) are excitedly planning their wedding and there’s only one tiny, itsy-bitsy little thing left to smooth the way to the altar: the future in-laws need to spend a weekend together.

So, Greg and Pam climb aboard Jack’s new state-of-the-art RV (with the Kevlar-reinforced hull and the two-inch Plexiglas windows) for a trip to Focker Isle, the Cocoanut Grove domicile of Bernie and Roz Focker (DUSTIN HOFFMAN and BARBRA STREISAND). The next 48 hours will provide the parents of the intended bride and groom a little time to get to know each other, but more importantly, give Jack the opportunity to study Greg’s parents.

Things start off well enough, but that’s before Jack discovers that the lawyer and doctor Greg presented are, in fact, a liberal stay-at-home dad and a senior citizens’ sex therapist. Then there’s the RV toilet episode, the overly zealous game of touch football, the saucy Cuban caterer with the secret, the incident with the toddler and the glue… Ready or not, it’s time to Meet the Fockers…it’s just one weekend together. What could possibly go wrong?

Movie Review:

Before you actually purchased your ticket to “Meet The Fockers”, you should already be prepared to embark on familiar turf and in the company of folks you seem to know so well.

For those who need a spilt-second refresher course, Ben Stiller plays a male nurse Greg who is tying the knot with schoolteacher Pam (Teri Polo). In the first, Greg needs to convince overprotective dad aka ex-CIA agent Jack Byre (De Niro) that he is fit to be in his so-called circle of trust. Now, Jack is making a trip with the whole family (including new addition Pam’s nephew Little Jack) in his state of the art SUV to “Fockers Isle” to see if Greg’s parents can “connect” with that of the Byre family.

The elder Fockers, Bernie & Roz as played by Dustin Hoffman and Barbara Streisand (her first screen appearance after “The Face Has Two Mirrors” which is at least seven years ago) is an opened and fun-loving couple, a far cry from the stiff and no-nonsense Jack Byre. And when both parties interact, that’s when the toilet gags and humour starts to pour in scene after scene. Virginity issues, Greg’s foreskin, breast milk etc are unleashed during their supposed wedding preparation discussion dinner. Even Little Jack is not spared either. He’s taught his first spoken word, a bad word if you want to know by none other than the great Ben Stiller. There is even a high libido doggy running amok in the Fockers family. Director Jay Roach (“Austin Powers” series) has literary thrown in every gag ever found on screen. Instead of letting the talented cast mingled and sizzled with their charisma and chemistry, most of them have been reduced to plain comedic characters sprouting funny one-liners or executing physical gags.

Most noteworthy though is the pairing up of the carefree Bernie and Roz. They are a gem in the whole bed sequence. Streisand is wonderful as a sex therapist and it’s hilarious to see her giving Jack a massage to ease his tensions. Much of the cast are largely sidelined this time round including Stiller. Jack is still in his ex-CIA setup and mindset which result in some crazy misunderstanding. Owen Wilson who appeared in the first gave another cute cameo towards the ending.

Simply put, “Meet The Fockers” is just liked every other Chinese New Year gatherings you attend in your family circle. Formulaic, routine but a whole lot of fun. It’s a good way to complete the circle of trust and the family portrait (the Fockers and Byres) for the audience.

Movie Rating: B-

Review by Linus.T.