By Marc S. Sanders
Am I the only one who used to get tired of feeling sorry for Ben Stiller? The go to formulas of his earlier comedies made him the unfortunate stooge. The best of that batch was The Farrelly Brothers’ hilarious There’s Something About Mary. Every gag, every cast member, every storyline was straight up side splitting. Late last year, during the hurricane chaos in Florida I got around to watching Along Came Polly. Poor Ben had to play basketball defense against a bare chested wookie hairball of a guy and his close up of misfortune carried the advertising campaign for that movie.
Back in the year 2000, Stiller suffered through a terrible weekend with an intimidating Robert DeNiro frowning on his every move in Meet The Parents, also known as the first of a “Fockers Trilogy.” Yeah, Meet The Parents is funny. You shake your head at the absurd comedy that befalls Stiller’s character, Greg Focker. Though that isn’t even his real name at birthright. Still, I can’t recall feeling so guilty for one guy’s misfortune that he can hardly ever help to avoid. This guy is destined to never win, to never overcome, to never live without self-consciousness.
Greg Focker is ready to propose to his loving girlfriend Pam Burns (Teri Polo). First, he has to survive a weekend at her parents’ house where the other daughter is getting married. Not so easy because first the airline loses his luggage and poor Greg has no clothes to wear, other than what Pam’s pot head brother can provide. Baggy jeans and baggy sweatshirt on a short and svelte Ben Stiller is one sight gag of many. The guy also has to nonchalantly dismiss his uninviting surname and the fact that Pam’s father Jack (DeNiro) is unimpressed with his occupation. Greg is not a nurse. Greg is “a male nurse,” who opted not to go all the way for the MD, even after taking the exams.
Jack and his wife Dina (Blythe Danner) are less than impressed with Greg’s housewarming gift. Jack’s precious cat Mr. Jinx is a bit of a problem because Pam can’t keep her mouth shut that Greg is not fond of cats. Doesn’t make him a bad guy, but does her cat loving father need to know this interesting tid bit, right away? Pam’s ex-boyfriend Kevin (a hilarious Owen Wilson against Stiller’s pitiful expressions) can do absolutely no wrong – like nothing at all. The biggest challenge for Greg though is Jack. Whether it’s Taxi Driver or Meet The Parents or Rocky & Bullwinkle, Robert DeNiro is the embodiment of intimidation.
Meet The Parents is funny, and it serves no purpose to surrender the many sight gags or one liners that are offered in the film. I laugh. I laugh hard when I watch this movie, but I hardly ever feel good about myself. Poor Greg never catches a break. He’s in a no-win situation and I’m just uneasy about the whole thing. The guy chooses not to go swimming because he has no swimsuit. Then Kevin offers one and well…yeah…I’m on Greg’s side and it’s not funny for Greg. If I was a guest in someone’s home only to wake up late when the whole family is dressed and finishing breakfast, and I’m wearing my girlfriend’s dad’s PJs, of course I’m going to feel insecure. For the sake of the comedy in Meet The Parents, the set ups are simply awkward situations to laugh at that one guy in the room. Poor Greg. Poor, poor Greg.
In fact, the real villain of Meet The Parents is not even DeNiro’s Jack Burns who has some secrets to hide. Actually, the unsympathizing bad guy is Teri Polo’s character. Pam never makes it easy for her boyfriend. Greg rightfully asks why didn’t she wake him up or why didn’t she tell him her dad is not a florist, or why this and why that, and Pam is naïve to Greg’s justified concern, never empathizing with his position. In fact, when he tries to explain his feelings, she’s nothing but insensitively dismissive.
Yes. It’s a comedy, but I was begging and begging and BEGGING Greg to just leave. Leave this place. LEAVE PAM FOR GOOD AND GET OUT OF THIS HOUSE. You know, like we would tell the counselors in a Friday The 13th flick? It’s not so much the father as it is his girlfriend who quickly nosedives Greg’s comfort into an inescapable hell. You know how people love to say Jenny is the villain of Forrest Gump? Well, I got one better. Pam Burns is an unthoughtful, uncaring, spoiled brat of a daddy’s girl with nary a shred of consideration for others.
I despise you Pam Burns – daughter of Jack and Dina Burns, rotten and heartless girlfriend to Greg Focker!!!!!
2 UNPAID MOVIE CRITICS!!!! 