One of the most underrated comedies of the last few years has to be Meet The Parents, starring Ben Stiller and Robert DeNiro. The movie was panned in some erudite circles, with most of the criticisms centering on the fact that DeNiro is not considered to be much of a comedic actor. I suppose this reaction is to be expected. After all, this is an actor whose most famous roles have come in films such as Goodfellas, Raging Bull, Casino, and Taxi Driver. For such an actor to attempt a comedy of the slapstick variety is a slap in the face to many critics and fans alike. Those who take themselves too seriously in this regard really lose out on a funny movie.
The basic premise is simple: a girl brings her fiancee to meet the future inlaws, and everything that could go wrong, does go wrong. Hilarity ensues. From this simple plot springs forth many drop dead funny sequences, all centering on the horrifically bad luck of one Gregory (Gaylord) Focker, played brilliantly by Ben Stiller. It all starts to go wrong for Focker when he loses his luggage on the flight to New York. From this point on the movie it is one hilarious scene after another as Focker squares off with DeNiro, who plays the overprotective father as well as any of his heavier roles. The look on his face when he asks Focker, "I have nipples Greg, could you milk me?" is worth the price of admission by itself.
Look for a great cameo appearance by Owen Wilson, who plays Focker's fiancee's ex. Wilson is a great comedic actor and, in this movie, steals every scene he is in. All of the supporting cast do a wonderful job, actually, and the result is one of the finer comedies to come along in some time. I definitely suggest Meet the Parents as a rental, particularly if you would rather stay warm at home, enjoying a good laugh, than venture out into the cold night.
Go To Page: 1
