Meet the Parents ***** (2000, Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Teri Polo, Blythe Danner, Owen Wilson) – Classic Movie Review 488

Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro make a wonderful comedy double act in this hysterically funny, laugh-a-minute 2000 farce to treasure and see over and over again.

Male nurse Gaylord ‘Greg’ Myron Focker (Ben Stiller) plans to propose to his girlfriend Pam (Teri Polo) on a weekend visit to meet the prospective parents, little knowing that her strict, loopy, cat-loving father (Robert De Niro) – a nutty ex-CIA agent with a lie detector – expects to be asked for her hand in marriage. And he intends to investigate too.

Unfairly, there’s too little for Teri Polo, Blythe Danner (as Pam’s mom) or Owen Wilson (as the ex of Pam) to do, but they’re very amusing nevertheless. The comedy stuff with the cat and the swimming pool is priceless. The hilarious, inventive script is by James Herzfeld and John Hamburg. The director of Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Jay Roach, handles the direction brightly and expertly.

Sequels: Meet the Fockers (2004), Little Fockers (2010).

© Derek Winnert 2013 Classic Movie Review 488

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