Meet the Fockers

(recommended by Julia)

This sequel to Meet The Parents is one of the rare sequels that is actually worth seeing. Added to the original cast of this excellent comedy are Barbra Streisand and Dustin Hoffman as Greg’s parents, Bernie and Roz Focker. Greg Focker (Ben Stiller), his fiancée Pam (Teri Polo) and her parents, Jack and Dina Byrnes (Robert De Niro and Blythe Danner), travel down to Florida in an enormous RV in order to meet Greg’s parents before Greg and Pam marry. Included on this trip are the Byrnes’ grandson, and their cat (who can flush).

Greg’s parents are priceless. Roz is a sex therapist, coaching senior citizens out of their home. Bernie is a lawyer, but stayed home when Greg was small to raise him. Bernie and Roz delight in exposing Greg’s personal and embarrassing secrets to the Byrnes family. Dina likes them soon enough, but Jack is difficult to win over. Not just anyone can enter his Circle of Trust. Jack resorts to some covert operations CIA style to try to get more information about Greg and his past. The shenanigans tumble one after another to set loose gales of laughter (from the audience). Particularly funny are some situations having to do with the Byrnes’ grandson, including his first words. Parenting styles couldn’t be more opposite.

I recommend this film for a good laugh. Two families joining their lives through marriage is never an easy thing to do, and it is likely that these two families will make yours and your in-laws seem tame by comparison.