Be grateful your name isn't Gaylord! (Meet the Parents (DVD))

Member Name: eatingpinkzebras

Product:	Meet the Parents (DVD)
Date:	08/01/09 (109 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very funny, good acting

Disadvantages: Cringeworthy, some immature humour

Meet the Parents is a comedy starring Ben Stiller and Robert DeNiro. It was released in 2000 and was directed by Jay Roach who also directed the three Austin Powers film.

It tells the story of the appalling named Gaylord 'Greg' Focker (Stiller) who is about to propose to his girlfriend Pam (Teri Polo) when he finds out that when her sister got engaged, her fiance asked her father's permission first. Focker decides that he must do the same, and handily he and Pam have been invited to her parents' house for the weekend before Pam's wedding, so he plans to do it then. However, when the couple arrive, Focker gets off on the wrong foot with Pam's father Jack (DeNiro) who is an ex CIA agent and has very strict standards. He is so protective of his daughter that he subjects Focker to a lie detector test and background checks. Things go from bad to worse when Focker continues to accidentally do stupid acts such as setting fire to things, giving people black eyes and losing cherished pets. Will he ever be able to gain Jack's respect? Or will Pam decide that he is not worth all this trouble?

I didn't expect to like this movie much. I'm not a big Stiller fan as I generally find him annoying, and usually the sort of slapstick comedy and toilet humour that features in this film is not my kind of thing. But the whole film is pulled off with such charm that I couldn't help laughing along. There are some really amusing bits and also some cute parts.

The actors are all really good, even Stiller, and I found myself sympathising (and cringing) a lot with his character. DeNiro is brilliant and manages to be really unpleasant without completely alienating the audience. The movie also stars Owen Wilson who is very funny as Pam's ex boyfriend, and Blythe Danner who adds a calming presence to the film.

If I had to criticise this film I would say that there are some bits which are just so cringeworthy that it is difficult to watch! It is worth sitting through them though.

If you like this film then you may also enjoy the sequel, Meet the Fockers, where Pam and Greg's parents meet each other. Both films can be bought in a boxed set for just £4.98 from Amazon.co.uk which is really good value.

Summary: A lot of good laughs as long as you're not too easily offended