The Popkorn Junkie :: Meet the Fockers

      This sequel had so much going for it -- an all-star cast, a usually impeccable comic director, and a build-up that has been growing and growing ever since the original broke onto the scene. The result however -- "Meet the Fockers" -- falls totally short of the original and manages to join those numerous other sequels that just didn't make the grade. Who is to blame? Jay Roach, mostly. He could have handled this script much better, instead of relying on an abundance of sexual jokes and ridiculous set-ups like a rubber breast which De Niro uses to breast feed his grandson. Totally unnecessary and not funny at all. It is almost like Roach decided that, for the sequel, he needed to make De Niro a total buffoon. This doesn't work when you consider De Niro's character from the original. Are we suppose to believe that C.I.A. operatives behave themselves in this manner?

      The premise of "Meet the Fockers" is, essentially, the exact same premise as the original, except that Stiller & Co. (Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, Robert De Niro, Blythe Danner) are meeting the Fockers (Dustin Hoffman, Barbara Streisand) at their Florida home. Hoffman is a stay-at-home dad and Streisand is a sexual therapist, an occupation which gives she and numerous other characters all sorts of room for crude jokes in the area of "American Pie" humor. And, Roach also decided that it would be best to recycle every single ounce of plot from the original film and re-inject it into this sequel. The scene with the men playing football is an exact duplicate of the volleyball scene from the original. And, the scene with Hoffman and Stiller arrested in the side of the road takes the same place as Stiller's airport scene from the original. Was there nothing new Roach could have added?

      The only original sub-plot involves a kid named Jorge who might or might not be Focker's son from a previous relationship. This, however, is treated so shabbily. The one laugh comes when Greg has been shot up with sodium pentathol and is ranting on the microphone. He asks his 'possible' son up on stage and then proceeds to talk to him in Spanish. I will admit that I did chuckle here, but then I started to realize how sad and wrong that scene was. There is another mildly entertaining scene involving Jinx flushing Hoffman's dog Moses down the toilet -- Hoffman's expressions were the funniest aspect of that scene. But, Barbara Streisand seems to have loads of fun with her role, though it was really not something she should have waited so long to do -- this is her big film? Here, she really seems like the sex lady off TV more than anything else. How does she go from such noteworthy performances to supporting schlock like this?

      In case you have yet to realize, there is not much in terms of positive praise that I can give this film. I entered the theatre with the highest of hopes and walked out of the theatre dazed and confused. Usually, when the original director is attached, a sequel will be just as good as the original, if not better. And, Jay Roach is such a good comedic director. I am dumbfounded as to what in the hell went to terribly wrong here. Maybe it is the fact that Ben Stiller is in every other film these days and is wearing completely thin. Maybe it is the fact that the Robert De Niro character turned into such a clown. Maybe it is the fact that there was very little humor in this script. Foreskin jokes? Rubber breast straps? Come on. This is De Niro and Streisand. That use to mean something. Now, all it means is that A-list actors will do whatever it takes for a buck or two.

-- Billy Ray ( 1 out of 4 pops )

Talk about this film with other Popkorn Junkies

Other Junkie's opinions.....

None yet.