Little Fockers is the latest installment in the Ben Stiller – Robert De Niro comedy franchise. In the series, Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) plays the hapless son-in-law, to Robert De Niro’s Jack Brynes, aka the “father-in-law” from hell. In Little Fockers, after suffering a mild heart attack, Byrnes, the controlling patriarch extraordinaire, asks Greg to be the “God-focker” (leader) of the Brynes-Focker clan. Being the “God-focker” entails Greg doing his best imitation of his crazy father-in-law. However, Greg is still a Focker and all of his attempts to lead the family ala Jack Brynes are, of course, utter failures.
The plot is totally predictable, especially if one is familiar with the previous installments. Originality, however, is not what has powered this franchise. Rather it is grounded in the hilarious over-the-top conflict between Stiller and De Niro. And they don’t disappoint! The laughs were frequent and often. Also on hand to add to the laughs were: Owen Wilson (as Pam Brynes Fockers’ still smitten ex-boyfriend); Barbra Streisand and Dustin Hoffman (as Greg Fockers’ eccentric hippie parents) and Jessica Alba (as a romantic temptation for Greg).
Little Fockers served as a pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
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I love Dustin Hoffman, but I have never been into this franchise. I like Ben Stiller's more serious stuff (recommend Greenberg). As for The King's Speech, you have to see it! It really isn't as serious as you expect it to be and Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush have a lot of funny lines. Firth better win the Oscar after that performance!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if there was any life left in this story, and I'm glad to see there is. You do need to see The King's Speech, though.
ReplyDeleteI will totally see it, do I want to..meh, but it might be fun :)
ReplyDeleteGlad this was fun;
ReplyDeleteI'll propably wait until it is "on demand", but I do want to see the King's Speech and Black Swan now.