Rating: Summary: Meet a winner! Review: This is not the kind of comedy that you will be falling down in the aisles laughing at, but this movie is still a smart and funny movie nonetheless. The humor comes in more of a dry humor, sarcastic kind of way. It is a great movie (or maybe not so great movie) to see after you've dated someone for awhile. It revolves around the theme of having to please a significant other's parents in order to gain approval. If you know someone who has had bad luck with parents, then this is for you. Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro are such an unusual matchup that it makes it humorous.
Rating: Summary: Poor guy¿ Review: "Meet Parents" follows the comical misadventures of Ben Stiller's most horrible weekend as his character Greg travels with his girlfriend Pam (Teri Polo) to her parents' home to meet them and pop the big question. As you would imagine, this being a romantic comedy, everything that could go wrong DOES, only 10X worse!!!THE STORY: Greg wants to marry Pam and is ready to ask her the big one but fate intervenes and Greg realizes to make the best impression he'll first need to meet Pam's parents and get her father's permission first. Pam and Greg travel home for her sister's wedding and Greg tries his VERY best to make a good impression on Pam's dad Jack (the legendary Robert DeNiro!!!). Things immediately go from bad to worse as it is revealed that Jack is actually a former CIA operative and Greg continually digs himself into a TON of bad spots that would surely make you think he'll NEVER make it into the family - and that's too bad because he's an overall pretty nice guy!!! THE COOL THINGS: This movie's actually the PERFECT comedy of errors and Greg's life just continually goes from bad to worse. The amazingly horrible situations he gets into are hilarious and at the same time really pathetic. You'll definitely feel for his character. The performances turned in by the two male leads, Stiller and DeNiro are just amazing. They complement each other perfectly and bring the characters to life amazingly well. BEST SCENES: 1. The Polygraph Test 2. The Car Race 3. Septic Trouble 4. Jack's Mom 5. The Pool Party 6. The Fire Scene 7. The Airport 8. The Name Jokes THE DVD SPECIAL FEATURES Again, if you are into stacked DVDs, you got it here. Tons of extras and games here, including: 1. Spotlight on Location: 24 minute feature with interviews of the cast and crew discussing the concept behind the movie and how it was produced. Great feature!!! 2. Two separate feature length audio commentary tracks. The first with Director Jay Roach and Editor Jon Poll and the second with Director Jay Roach, Producer Jane Rosenthal and leads Robert DeNiro and Ben Stiller. Very insightful. 3. Two deleted scenes, "Surf and Turd" and "Crawlspace." You have the option of viewing both scenes with or without the director's commentary. Cool scenes which unfortunately did not make the movie. 4. 10 minutes worth of outtakes. Some pretty funny stuff in here. 5. "Lie Detector Test:" Fun game. 6. "The Forecaster:" Another fun "personality type" game which predicts how you'll handle yourself when you meet your significant other's parents. 7. Theatrical Trailer 8. Production Notes: Cool write-up which gives awesome background to how the film concept was developed and produced. 9. Cast and Crew Bios and Filmographies: Always informative and interesting. 10. Plus, more DVD-ROM features for your PC. THE VERDICT: Overall, whether you buy it or rent it, you can't go wrong with this one. Hilarious movie and great DVD features. Highest Recommendation
Rating: Summary: meet the parents...there funny! Review: this movie is funny, buh u start to feel bad for ben stiller at a point.
Rating: Summary: An instant comedy classic Review: I've seen this movie a few times now. I'm laughing as much, if not more, upon repeated viewings. Yes, there are some predictable moments here, and some over-the-top gags that push the envelope of suspending disbelief. But they don't detract from the meat and potatoes of the movie: Ben Stiller's dead-on portrayal of his character. As you've probably gathered from reading other reviews, everything goes wrong for Stiller's character, Greg, when he meets his girlfriend's parents for the first time (enter the exaggerated gags.) In fact, it is probably his worst nightmare come to life, all in one weekend. Actually, it's probably every guy's worst nightmare, which is why the film works. Pam's (Stiller's soon-to-be fiancee) dad, played by Robert DeNiro is pre-judgmental of Stiller immediately upon meeting him, treating him with condescension and mistrust, and hurling a steady flow of humiliating questions and insults at him. Stiller reacts the way most people would: he tries to be polite, respectful, and dignified, even cheerful, despite having to endure unwarranted attacks on his character from not only DeNiro but other characters in the movie, who all seem to be conspiring to discredit him. Down-to-earth Stiller enters an upper class world where the slightest deviation from the supposed norm is treated with suspicion and disdain. He tries to make the best of it, but he clearly detects the obvious flaws and superficiality. Eventually, he, too gets caught up in it, creating a web of lies and deceit (more slapstick), but doing so only to save face and appear "normal" to DeNiro, who's approval he desperately seeks (for obvious reasons.) DeNiro is great here, too. He relishes his role as interrogator, and as protector of his daughter from this potential drug-addict/pansy/liar. He is a man fraught with prejudices and assumptions about what is right and wrong. DeNiro actually doesn't play a comic role here. It's pretty straight on the contrary. But he does so with characteristic conviction. And anyone who is that blatantly arrogant and opinionated is clearly laughable. The success of the film relies on the viewer's identification with Stiller's character. Everyone is apprehensive and nervous about meeting their future spouse's parents, and everyone hopes they'll be liked. For these reasons, it is easy to sympathize with Stiller's character . I was even uncomfortable watching several scenes, as I cringed at the awkwardness of the social situations created. The film definitely strikes a nerve, and Stiller's character is the embodiment of the humble, thirty-ish, American everyman. The only drawback may be that the story is told from a male point-of-view, potentially alienating a female audience. My wife doesn't care for it because I don't think she empathizes with the future son-in-law/father-in-law tension between Stiller and DeNiro and the ensuing social situations that make for genuinely funny stuff. And the movie is funny. Really funny. If you like big-time gags and silliness, you'll like it. And if you appreciate comic subtlety, you'll love it.
Rating: Summary: Jay Roach's Meet the Parents Review: I have not been this surprised by a mainstream hit in a long time. Ben Stiller is Greg Focker, who goes home with his live-in girlfriend, Teri Polo, to meet her parents and attend her sister's wedding. He decides to ask her father for permission to marry her. Soon, Greg realizes his could be father in law ain't right. He is a former CIA operative who may still be in the company, and everything Greg does is wrong, wrong, wrong. He also meets his girlfriend's ex-fiancee, played very well by Owen Wilson, who is the success everyone expects Greg to be. I think this film works, especially to anyone who has, is, or plans to be married, or even in a long term relationship. Ben Stiller is hilarious as Greg Focker, being sympathetic without being weak. I read Jim Carrey almost took this role, and I think he would have been all wrong for it. Robert DeNiro shows he can do comedy as well as drama, being menacing and funny at the same time. Blythe Danner, as DeNiro's wife, kind of fades into the furniture whenever DeNiro and Stiller get a chance to play off each other. The script is very funny without going over the top with a bunch of gross out gags. All the comedy unfolds and makes sense to the story, not like the Farrelly brothers, who seem to make up the disgusting stuff first, then fashion a screenplay around it. Although it veers into Chris Columbus/ John Hughes/ warm and fuzzy territory once in a while, it holds together well. Jay Roach has a great eye for suburban comedy, taking a nice upper middle class family and introducing regular middle class Stiller. The film is edited together well, and the gags work almost all of the time. Like I wrote, I was surprised to like such a big hit. When I find out a film like this goes over a hundred million, I figure the marketing campaign was successful. It is nice to see a film that deserves its audience. I highly recommend "Meet the Parents." This is rated (PG13) for some physical violence, profanity, mild sexual content, and adult situations.
Rating: Summary: Not A Laugh Riot Review: I heard that this movie was really good, and it seemed like everyone was telling me I had to see it. So, when I saw this in the store, I decided to buy it because I figured that I would enjoy it. Well, after hearing about this movie being praised so much, I was very disappionted. I didn't think that this movie was overly funny. I didn't really like the plot either.
Rating: Summary: Very funny moments Review: This film has several sequences which are among the funniest I've ever seen. DeNiro is incredibly good as a no nonsense father who becomes increaslingly suspicious of his daughters boy friend played by Ben Stiller. The dialogue between DeNiro and Stiller is unbelievably funny as Stiller's character digs himself in deeper and deeper. Both of these actors are in top form here. The scene where Greg Folker (Stiller) is at the airport counter dealing with robot-like airline employees had me in stitches. Owen Wilson is very well cast and does a great job as Folker's girlfriend's ex-boyfriend. The supporting actors are all good and the screenplay is well written and delivered. Overall this is a movie worth owning because it stands up to multiple viewings and continues to provide laughs.
Rating: Summary: A perfect movie Review: This was the absolute funniest film I had ever watched. I have watched it thousand times and I still laugh as much as I did when I first watched it. Greg Focker goes on a vaction to Oyster Bay NY with his girl friend to attend her Sisters wedding. Jack Burns who is Robert D'nerio does not care for Greg, and does not want to lose his baby girl Pam. The weekend turns into a complete disaster when all Greg wants is to marry Pam and ask Jacks permission. Jack does not allow Greg to ask permission. He always seems to change the subject before the question is brought forth. The wedding is nearly a ruin for Pam's older sister Debbie and Greg can't do anything right. Throughout the entire show everyone assumes that Greg is a pot-head. He is constantly be littled because he is a male nurse and of the jewish religon. It is a must see comedy that will keep you laughing the entire time.
Rating: Summary: Great!! Review: I really like Ben Stiller. He's definitely a comedic genius. This movie is a pleasure to watch the second time, because the first time, you keep yelling at the screen at his character, and the word you keep yelling is "NO." He keeps getting deeper and deeper into trouble. The first time is very nerve-wracking. But, the second time, you can smile and laugh all the way through.
Rating: Summary: Non-Stop Laughs! Review: Ben Stiller stars as Greg Focker, a male nurse who wants to pop the question to his girlfriend, Pam (Teri Polo), but he discovers that he has to get the approval of Pam's father, Jack (Robert De Niro). It's perfect when Pam and Greg go to spend the weekend at her folks' house- he'll be able to ask her father. It's not that easy. Jack Byrnes is a crazed, ex-CIA agent, who doesn't like his daughter's beau the minute he meets him. It doesn't make matters any better when Greg accidentally knocks over and breaks the urn that holds the ashes of Jack's late mother with a wine cork at dinner. Greg realizes he has to win over Mr. Byrnes, so he tries desperately to impress him, but it seems everything he does turns into one, hilarious mishap after the other, like setting Pam's sister's wedding altar on fire with his cigarette and losing Jack's beloved cat, the toilet trained, Mr. Jinx. The must see Meet the Parents is an absolutely hysterical comedy and I can't wait for the sequel, Meet the Fockers to be released in 2004!
|