Review of Meet the Parents (2000) by Anival G — 12 Dec 2012

What is the worst thing for a young boyfriend? Often, itâ(TM)s meeting his partnerâ(TM)s family. In âMeet the Parentsâ? Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) has to spend the weekend with his girlfriendâ(TM)s family. They are going to visit because his girlfriendâ(TM)s sister is going to get married. He views this weekend long stay in Long Island as the perfect opportunity to ask Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro) for his approval of their marriage. However Pam Byrnes (Teri Polo) comes from a very wealthy and high-class family that Greg will have trouble fitting into.

Things start off bad immediately as his carry-on bag is too big and it has to go on the bottom level with the rest of the luggage. The airline loses it and he has to get it sent at another time. He arrives and meets the parents and he is immediately looked down on for being a male nurse. He also makes a bad impression because Pam blurts out that he doesnâ(TM)t like cats, and Jack is a cat lover. He has even trained their cat âJinxyâ? to go poop in the bathroom.

Greg makes up lies about his childhood but he doesnâ(TM)t realize that he is talking to a human lie-detector because Jack worked in the CIA for 34 years. He goes on to meet the rest of her family who continually bash him for being a nurse. They are ambitious, successful and always have everything set-up. Greg on the other hand, is unambitious, lousy and heâ(TM)s a Jew. Things continue to go bad for him.

He meets Pamâ(TM)s ex Kevin (Owen Wilson) who seems to be the one that Jack wants for his daughter. Pam reassures Greg that she loves him, and that her relationship with Kevin was simply physical. Kevin seems to be perfect, and the directors make him look much better than Greg. In a game of volleyball at Kevinâ(TM)s mansion, Greg continually receives criticism for not playing hard. When he finally spikes the ball, it hits the bride in the face, giving her a purple eye two days before her wedding. He then goes on to flood the yard where the wedding ceremony will take place, with septic tank water. He also burns the altar where the bride would be standing; it was carved out of a single piece of wood and took many days to make.

Gregâ(TM)s lies to try and impress Pamâ(TM)s family only make him be disliked even more. Every guy must dread having to meet the dad of their girlfriend. This movie takes those nightmares and makes them a reality. Itâ(TM)s a fun witty movie that is family friendly and couple friendly. Anybody that has yet to meet the parents should see this so that they can see what lies ahead of them.