2000
Directed by Jay Roach
I feel as though this is the spiritual successor of There's Something About Mary. I won't completely destroy this movie, as Robert De Niro's presence elevates it into something greater. At least, that's what I tried to tell myself during the sewage scenes.
So like I said, it's pretty much There's Something About Mary, but surprisingly, it manages to be even grosser. In TSAM, Ben Stiller was trying to impress the girl. In Meet the Parents, he has the girl, now he is trying to impress the father. It plays on every "father with a shotgun" cliche in the book and rarely covers new ground. To give you an example of the screenwriters' ingenuity, I will reveal that the main character's name is Gaylord Focker.
Like I said in my TSAM review (an abbreviation I am clearly trying to get started), if this film made you laugh, I'm glad. We need more laughter in this world and I would never begrudge anyone for being amused. Still, I don't think a film like this should be in The Book. One Ben Stiller comedy was more than enough.
RATING: **---
Interesting Facts:
Anthony Hopkins was considered for the role of Jack.
