MEET THE PARENTS

REVIEWED BY DALLAS SHIPP

Our rating: 3 out of 5

Because of: sexual content, innuendo, language

Rated:

Take the worst nightmares you have ever had about meeting your future in-laws for the first time, and you have this film. Starring Robert DeNiro and Ben Stiller, Meet the Parents is not the first of it's kind, but does an excellent job of standing on its own. Funny and romantic, although occasionally very awkward and compromising, this film is a mixed bag. Many of the comic elements are lost in shame and sorrow, and leave you gasping "Oh No!" instead of the intended laugh. Acting was of high quality all around, but Robert DeNiro proved to steal the show. Playing a undercover CIA interrogator, who just happens to be the father of the love of Ben Stiller's life, DeNiro is marvelous as the demanding Dad who wants nothing but the very best for his beloved daughter. His performance in this film may turn out to be award winning. The locale used for the film was spectacular and pristine. Sets were complex and delicate. All nearly works of art themselves. All very impressive.

Ben Stiller is cast as Greg Focker, a male nurse from Chicago who is almost ready to pop the question to his long time girlfriend, Pam. Just before he asks, Greg decides to take a trip with Pam to meet her parents, Jack and Dina Byrnes.. Greg is understandably nervous, but when everything he does begins to blow up in his face, Greg goes to his wits end trying to make a good impression. Meet the Parents is rated PG-13 for language, references to drugs, and for sex-related material. Use of foul language is high. Greg's last name (Focker) is meant to sound slightly similar to another unmentionable word, and his name is said many times throughout the film. There were 7 uses of a scatological reference, 2 uses of S.O.B., 4 questionable anatomical references, and many uses of God's name in vain. References to drugs are mild and comic. Evidently one minor character is smoking pot, but this is never seen. 

A colorful pipe is shown in one scene, and it is mentioned that its purpose was for smoking marijuana. Greg decides to give up cigarettes while he is visiting Pam's family, so he chews nicotine gum through the film. Sex-related material is high. Characters make out a few times, there is some brief inappropriate touching, as well as various bikini-clad women and suggestive material (including a box for a sex toy). Some people make fun of Greg by calling him "Gay Focker" (His real name is Gaylord). Pornographic videos are mentioned. Jack says that Greg and Pam are probably having "premarital relations," and insists that Greg keeps his hands off of his daughter while under his roof. (He doesn't.) We hear the Greg and Pam are living together and their parents don't know.

Meet the Parents was very promising, but came along with too much objectionable material. While there are plenty of great comic moments in Parents, the grime that comes with it is nagging. It's not for everyone, but many will really enjoy it. Meet the Parents is not a film for younger viewing. Due to the amount of profane material in the film, I give it 2 ½ out of five stars. I recommend it to older audiences. I suggest the brides and grooms out there watch this film with your in-laws. It was made especially for you.