DVDs: Meeting the Fockers

By Michele Blandino

It’s not often that a sequel surpasses the original in terms of humor and overall enjoyment. Meet the Fockers, the follow-up film to 2000’s Meet the Parents is one of the rare exceptions. This movie, which enjoyed a brief run in the theaters during the last months of 2004, was recently released on DVD.

Meet the Fockers reacquaints us with Greg Focker (Ben Stiller), his fiancé Pam (Terri Polo), and her parents, Jack and Dina Byrnes (Robert DeNiro and Blythe Danner). Two years have passed since their engagement, and so Greg and Pam think it is finally time for her parents to meet Greg’s mom and dad, the earthy Bernie and Roz Focker, who are beautifully portrayed by Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Steisand.

Before continuing, I realize that the critics overwhelmingly panned this movie when it was originally released last year. However, even the critics are sometimes wrong. While it’s true that they trot out the “Focker” jokes a little too often, and the humor sometimes borders on the level that most enjoyed by pre-teen boys, there is plenty of fresh material to keep you amused.

For instance, in this movie, the Byrnes’ infant grandson “Little Jack” is along for the ride. “Little Jack” is, at least in his grandfather’s estimation, a budding genius that communicates using infant sign language. Then, there’s Jack’s inventive method for feeding the little guy.

The Fockers themselves also provide plenty of new material. Bernie Focker is a 1960’s hippie that hasn’t yet quite grown up. Roz Focker is a sex therapist for senior citizens, a fact that Greg desperately wants hidden from his future in-laws. Plenty of laughs are also provided when a mishap in the Byrnes’ RV makes it necessary for them to bunk in the Focker’s home.

While the story line is rather simple: Greg and Pam want their respective parents to meet before they are married – there are a few twists, including Pam’s discovery that she is pregnant and Jack’s suspicion that Greg has an illegitimate son.

All in all, this movie is great fun and will have you laughing for most of its two hour run time.