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MEET THE PARENTS When a film buff thinks of Robert De Niro,
images of Travis Bickle standing in front of a mirror saying, You talkin’
to me? instantly pop up. Memories of young Vito Corleone, stalking
Fanutti in one of THE GODFATHER, PART II most memorable and
brilliantly played out scenes. Jake LaMotta in RAGING BULL as all the
demons and ghosts from his past come back to haunt him as he stands in a dark
prison cell, his glory long since behind him. De Niro is one of the greatest
actors of all time; there is no question about it. So my hat goes off to him
for venturing into the genre of comedy, and especially slapstick comedy,
which actors of his status usually don’t do. But like ANALYZE THIS two
years back, De Niro has proven he can deliver the punch line to a tee.
MEET THE PARENTS focuses around Greg
Focker (Ben Stiller), who is madly in love with beautiful childcare worker
Pam Byrnes (Teri Polo). Both have been going for about ten months, Greg is
happily employed as a nurse and as time passes, their love grows deeper. So
what’s the next step? Marriage of course, and Greg plans an elaborate
proposal for Pam. But she has dropped an unexpected bombshell on him before
he has the chance to pop the question. Pam’s sister is also getting married
in two weeks, but only because they got the permission of Pam’s father. Greg
bides his time to ask Pam, and both fly to her fathers place for the wedding,
in which Greg yearns to make a good impression by buying a rare flower, being
informed that Pam’s father was a flouriest before he retired. He meets Pam’s
parents, Jack (De Niro), and doting mother Dina (Blythe Danner). But Greg’s
good intentions to gain Jack’s friendship go up in smokes (quite literally in
one scene). Everything that can go wrong does, as one disaster follows
another and at the center of the hurricane lye poor Greg. From smashing a
volleyball into Pam’s sisters’ face (played by Nicole Dehuff), to making it appear
that he is a pothead, Greg is bad luck running around on two legs. And things
definitely don’t improve when he discovers that Jack was once in the CIA, and
is basically a human lie detector. Jack is a hard man to please. His
overprotective love for his daughter is his strongest reason to dislike the
boy from the start. But of course he really didn’t need a reason to be
unimpressed, especially after the cremated remains of his beloved mother is
destroyed by accident. Greg’s hopes for getting approval from Jack to propose
to his daughter are dimming with each passing second. De Niro and Stiller have perfect comic timing,
and the vast difference in acting ability is never an issue. Both certainly
benefit from the fact that the movie isn’t about gross out humor. Though not
all the situations have a punch to them, both actors are able to lift up the
weaker scenes. De Niro is perfect in the role and plays it cool. He stands
around like a judge, watching as poor Stiller bundles his way through the
weekend. He observes and he probes into Stiller, and the results are usually
hilarious (the lie detector scene was a riot). De Niro can do comedy
well, when given the right material. It’s a role that doesn’t require much,
and probably would be viewed upon as pedestrian by such a man. But I think De
Niro is having fun with the role and enjoys playing the straight man whose
presence tortures to light headed nitwit with the heart of gold (it’s usually
the other way around, as the straight man usually has to be humiliated at the
expense of another). Stiller is also great in the role and holds his own
against De Niro. Though his shtick gets a little tiring towards the end
(unlike De Niro, who remains fresh throughout), Stiller knows how to deliver
the moments. His neurotic, high-strung nerd is fun to watch and Stiller fits
into the role nicely. But the film has its problems, and that is the
movie never goes beyond its formula. Though the story is basically about one
event, it could have expanded its story a little more and could have ditched
a few dramatic confrontations and a rather silly and unfunny ending. There
really isn’t that much connection or chemistry between the two lovebirds,
which is a distraction because that is why Stiller is put into such an
uncomfortable situation. And Danner could have used a little more screen time
(it is MEET THE PARENTS, not MEET THE DAD). But the laughs are
still there and everyone is having a good time. One special note must be made
to Owen Wilson as Pam’s former love. A brief appearance, but a terrific one. There is talks of a sequel titled MEET THE
FOCKERS, in which one family meets the other. Though I doubt the title
will be approved, I think there is still potential for another movie. And as
De Niro says in the movie, perhaps we’ll see little Fockers running around
this time out. My Grade: B |