Meet the Fockers (2004)

All hell breaks loose when the Byrnes family meets the Focker family for the first time.

Director:

Jay Roach

Writers:

Greg Glienna (characters), Mary Ruth Clarke (characters),

Stars:

Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Blythe Danner

2 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert De Niro	...	Jack Byrnes
Ben Stiller	...	Greg Focker
Dustin Hoffman	...	Bernie Focker
Barbra Streisand	...	Rozalin Focker
Blythe Danner	...	Dina Byrnes
Teri Polo	...	Pam Byrnes
Owen Wilson	...	Kevin Rawley
Spencer Pickren	...	Little Jack 'L.J.' Byrnes
Bradley Pickren	...	Little Jack 'L.J.' Byrnes
Alanna Ubach	...	Isabel Villalobos
Ray Santiago	...	Jorge Villalobos
Tim Blake Nelson	...	Officer LeFlore
Shelley Berman	...	Judge Ira
Kali Rocha	...	Flight Attendant
Dorie Barton	...	Airline Clerk

Storyline

Having given permission to male nurse Greg Focker to marry his daughter, ex-CIA man Jack Byrnes and his wife travel to Miami to Greg's parents, who this time around are Mr. and Mrs. Focker, who are as different from them as can be. As asked in the first movie, what sort of people name their son Gaylord M. Focker?

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Plot Keywords:

nurse | speeding car | police officer | police car | control freak | 

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Taglines:

Misery loves family.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language and a brief drug reference

Details

Official Sites:

Universal Studios [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish Hebrew

Release Date:

22 December 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Meet the Fokkers

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$181,458 (Norway) (18 February 2005)

Gross:

$279,167,575 (USA) (29 April 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, DreamWorks SKG, Tribeca Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min 106 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Teri Polo accidentally called Barbra Streisand "Boob", which ended up becoming her on-set nickname.

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Goofs

When Greg and Jack are talking while driving in the camper at night, the shots of Greg all show Jack reflected in the window beside him, and vice versa. In a few of these reflections, the person appears to be speaking when they are not - and Jack is seen speaking into the microphone when he is not.

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Quotes

Greg Focker: This isn't about you, alright? It's not about either of you. It's about me and Pam. We're getting married. That's it. We're starting our own circle of trust. And guess what.
[points to both of them]
Greg Focker: You're not in it.
Jack Byrnes: You can't start a circle of trust. It's my circle.
Greg Focker: You know what, you don't have a patent on the circle, Jack. And by the way, you're not even in your own circle right now.
Jack Byrnes: That is untrue! I say who's in or out of the circle!
Bernie Focker: Well I'm confused. Who's circle am I in?
Greg Focker, Jack Byrnes: Nobody's.

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Crazy Credits

During the credits, Jack is seen watching the tapings of his secret camera, this was also done in the first movie when he watched Greg, this time he sees all of the Fockers in the camera. Also, this time, Greg realizes he's on-camera, and he has some fun at Jack's expense before revealing he's onto the surveillance.

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Connections

Referenced in Late Show with David Letterman: Episode #18.77 (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Dancing"
Written by Bruno Coon
Performed by HeadBone

User Reviews

Star Power Overcomes Some Comic Weaknesses

There are many movies where the performances are so good that the weaknesses of the movie itself are almost oblivious.

The casting in this film, bringing together the stars of the original with Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand as Greg aka Gaylord Focker's parents, is sensational.

While I admit that I believed I would read comments and reviews about the crudeness of the material, I believe the reason this is not a typically tragic Hollywood farce is due to the strength of the performances and the interaction of the characters.

As you know, the premise of the movie is very simple. Prior to the wedding of Greg and Pam, the two families will meet. In typical Hollywood sequel fashion, we already know that the Byrnses are somewhat reserved, set in their ways. So it is no surprise that the Fockers are almost the complete opposite.

Hilarity ensures, some crude, some overtly sexual. But the cast is skillful and it plays more like a comic version of "Closer". You will believe that Bernie and Roz (amazing performances by Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand) are Greg Focker's parents. Not only is their interaction genuine, their love for their child is as well. Part of Greg's embarrassment is the knowledge of his parents' "quirks" and how different they are from the Byrnses. Ben Stiller aptly conveys this while not backing down from his love for his parents.

Meanwhile, stern Jack Byrnes scans the Fockers for clues to prove why he should not like them, therefore not allowing his daughter to be married into that family. His design of the RV is classic Jack Byrnes. What is an improvement in this film, is that Jack discovers some things about himself and his relationship with his wife and daughter that change him. This may be the funniest performance in Robert DeNiro's career.

Throughout the film, there are themes that everyone has experienced but most of all, how important love is. The love of another and the love of family and friends. There is a very good example of this in a scene between Teri Polo and Ben Stiller, after some new information is exposed that could possibly tear them apart once again.

All in all, when you know the cast is having a good time, the audience does too. I will be seeing this one more than once.