Meet The Parents

Year: 2000
Directed by: Jay Roach
Written by: Greg Glienna, Mary Ruth Clarke

Starring:
Robert De Niro
Ben Stiller
Teri Polo
Owen Wilson

Storyline:
Gaylord 'Greg' Focker (Ben Stiller) is a male nurse in love. Not with his job, but with his primary school teacher girlfriend Pam Byrnes (Teri Polo). After feeling he is ready to make a real commitment Greg decides it's time for him to propose. However he wants to go about this the best possible way and feels he should ask her father Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro) first for his daughters hands in marriage. The perfect opportunity arises when they are set to head to Pam's family home for the weekend.

From the very first moment upon meeting the family Greg realizes it isn't going to be an easy job. Sly comments from Jack start from the very moment they get to the door with a comment about the choice of a green car. Whilst Greg struggles to get into the Byrnes family 'circle of trust' he doesn't realize Jack is in fact a former CIA agent who is trying to get every bit of dirt on his daughter's boyfriend. All Greg has to do is spit out them words whilst passing the interrogations!

The film is full of humor from the very start to the very end. The whole weekend unravels problem after problem that Greg has to encounter and try and get through. These aren't easy to get by and Greg always seems to find a difficult way to get around them, if he can at all that is.

Ben Stiller plays the fantastic role of the partner just trying anything to please the parents of his girlfriend. He does everything he can and plays the part perfectly when trying to fit in with private family jokes like many of us have tried. Robert De Niro however has to be the selling factor for this film however. With the characteristics of a completely over protective dad who will do anything to get the dirt on the boyfriend, he plays it perfectly whilst keeping it cool and coming across as a typical step dad.

Whilst the film can be predictable for an ending it still doesn't fail as great comedy. A huge amount of sympathy can be felt throughout the film as it can only be seen as bad luck on Greg's side, which every can admit they felt they've had at least once or twice in their life. It is a great film to relate to and can only make you laugh about the matter. Definitely worth a watch!