Meet the Parents (2000)

Randy Newman's opening song, "A Fool in Love," perfectly sets up the movie that follows. The lyrics begin, "Show me a man who is gentle and kind, and I'll show you a loser," before praising the man who takes what he wants. Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) is the fool in love in Meet the Parents. Just as he's about to propose to his girlfriend Pam (Teri Polo), he learns that her sister's fiancé asked their father, Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro), for permission to marry. Now he feels the need to do the same thing. When Greg meets Jack, he is so desperate to be liked that he makes up stories and kisses ass rather than having the courage of his convictions. It doesn't take an elite member of the CIA to see right through Greg, but that's precisely what Jack is. Directed by Jay Roach (the Austin Powers movies), Meet the Parents is an incredibly well-crafted comedy that stands in nice opposition to, say, the sloppy extremes of the Farrelly brothers. Stiller is great at playing up the uncomfortable comedy of errors, balancing just the right amount of selfishness and self-deprecating humor, while De Niro's Jack is funny as the hard-ass father who just wants a few straight answers from the kid. What makes the Jack character all the funnier is Blythe Danner as his wife, the Gracie to his George Burns, who is the true heart of the movie. Oh, and Owen Wilson turns in yet another terrific comic performance as Pam's ex-fiancé. --Andy Spletzer Amazon.com

Love this movie

Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson are really good in this movie. Its funny and Robert DeNiro plays a great overbearing father. September 29, 2008

Champagne at the Drug store

What the Hell was this. Mums Champagne at the Oyster Bay Drug store. This is Long Island NY not Kansas Dorothy. Get Real just blew it for me.A NY Drug store selling Booze. Yeah, right next to the Sorghum seeds Hoss.. September 5, 2008

Pretty bad.

Meet the Parents starring Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller is not that funny or original. Blythe Danner is pretty good in this but Teri Polo is one horrible actress, she's so lame and wooden. I have never been a Stiller fan but his chemistry with De Niro makes this movie not so dreadful. I don't why but I saw the sequel to this film a few years ago I enjoyed that one more than this. The jokes are somewhat crude but if you like those kind of comdies than this film is for you. September 2, 2008

Decent film

I enjoy this film & it's follow up "Meet the Fockers". Certainly NOT the best film ever made-far from it. Enjoyable. I am NOT a fan of Ben Stiller's. This is 1 of the 4 films I like where he is in a starring role. The other 2 "Night at the Museum" & "There's Something About Mary" HE BASICALLY PLAYED THE SAME ROLE IN ALL 3 FILMS. A nobody reacting to things going on around him & overreacting.

I actually like the follow up film more than the original. Another negative of the original: Owen Wilson Only got to see him briefly in the 2cd film.

Randy Newman's same old music-we've heard in films over the years & they all sound the same.

Good NOT GREAT extras on the DVD package.

Hard to feel for Stiller's character in either film when his character lies all the time.

The speeding to get back to Jack's (DeNiro's) house because of the Jinx? the cat lost bit. WHERE WAS THE NEEDED REACTION FROM THE OTHER CHARACTERS ABOUT GREG SPEEDING & BEING UNSAFE? August 31, 2008

Hilarious family movie!

Ben Stiller stars as a male nurse. Already awkward. His goal is to propose to his girlfriend Pam. Meanwhile he's going to be going to her parents house to ask their approval. It's going to be alot harder than he thought. Robert De Niro stars as Pam's dad. He's an ex-CIA agent who is always "watching your every move". Everything goes wrong for poor Greg Focker. (Stiller) I won't give too much away as this is truly a hilarious film for the whole family to enjoy!

I enjoyed watching this movie. This is most definitely a keeper for any Ben Stiller fan! July 17, 2008

More reviews at Amazon.com ...