Rating: PG-13
Starring:
Robert De Niro as Jack Byrnes
Ben Stiller as Greg Focker
Owen Wilson as Kevin Rawley
Dustin Hoffman as Bernie Focker
Barbra Streisand as Roz Focker
Blythe Danner as Dina Byrnes
Teri Polo as Pam Focker
Jessica Alba as Andi Garcia
Laura Dern as Prudence
Kevin Hart as Nurse Louis
Daisy Tahan as Samantha Focker
Colin Baiocchi as Henry Focker
Thomas McCarthy as Dr. Bob
Harvey Keitel as Randy Weir
Directed by Paul Weitz
Special Features:
Gag Reel
Alternate Opening and Ending
Deleted Scenes
The Making of Godfocker
And More!
Other Info:
Widescreen (1.85:1)
5.1 DTS-HD MA Sound
Spanish and French Language
Spanish and French Subtitles
Running Time: 1 Hour 38 Minutes
Synopsis:
The following is the official description of the film:
“Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) has finally begun to earn the respect of his ex-CIA father-in-law Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro) but one important test still lies ahead: will Greg prove that he has what it takes to be the family’s next “Godfocker” … or will the circle of trust be broken for good? Returning co-stars Owen Wilson Blythe Danner Teri Polo Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand are joined by newcomers Jessica Alba Laura Dern and Harvey Keitel in this hysterical family affair.”
“Little Fockers” is rated PG-13 for mature sexual humor throughout, language and some drug content.
The Movie:
Watching “Little Fockers” is a lot like putting on an old pair of shoes. They’re not new or exciting, but they’re comfortable and familiar. As this movie opens, we’re quickly reintroduced to the characters we’ve come to know and love. Robert De Niro is still intense and imposing as Jack Byrnes. Ben Stiller is still earnest and stressed out as Greg Focker. The two don’t take long to find themselves in uncomfortable positions where Greg squirms under the piercing gaze of Jack. It’s all very familiar but some fun to revisit. We also get brief cameos by Dustin Hoffman as Bernie Focker and Barbra Streisand as Roz Focker. Blythe Danner and Teri Polo return to their background roles as well.
While a lot of “Little Fockers” follows the familiar formula of Jack vs. Greg, the creators do make a little effort to add something new to the “Focker-verse.” We’re introduced to Jessica Alba as Andi Garcia. She’s young, hot, and flirtatious with Greg. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Greg will eventually be caught in a compromising position with her. Alba is surprisingly funny in the role and seems to have no problem taking her role over the top as we see in the finale. We also see more of Greg in his role as a nurse and all the uncomfortable situations that can create. I have friends who are nurses and some of the stories they tell make the stuff that Greg goes through look positively tame. Kevin Hart manages to generate laughs on his own as Nurse Louis simply by making baffled facial expressions.
Be sure to stay for the credits to see a video of Jack speaking to a doctor’s conference. It’s quite funny and well worth sticking around for.
As fun as it is to revisit these familiar characters and situations, “Little Fockers” relies a bit too heavily on the previous films. The first 20 minutes of the movie are spent simply re-introducing all of the characters doing their same old shtick. Roz Focker talks openly about sex. Bernie is eccentric. Jack is insanely intense. Then we have to go through Owen Wilson as Kevin Rawley stalking Pam again. When the movie briefly ventures into new territory, you start to think, “Ah! Now it’s going to kick into gear!” But then it returns to the same old formula of Jack battling Greg. There’s one scene where Jack and Greg conspire to get revenge on Dr. Bob and it’s fun because you see them actually working together for a change. The same is the case when Jack and Greg check out a kindergarten for the kids and are mistaken for a gay couple. It’s one of the few times they get along and it backfires on them. It’s these moments where the movie is at its best and I wished they did it more.
The movie is called “Little Fockers,” but the children don’t play a huge role in the storyline. I was almost expecting a Focker version of “Parenthood,” and while there are such moments, this isn’t it. We see Henry Focker puke on Greg, repeat some things to a teacher that as a parent you’d hope were never repeated, and have a crisis with a pet. But beyond these scenes, this movie isn’t about the trials and tribulations of raising young kids. It’s all about the father-in-law vs. The son-in-law. I think this was a lost opportunity.
If you liked the first two movies, then you’ll want to check out “Little Fockers.” It’s good for some light entertainment. It’s utterly forgettable and not as good as it could have been, but it is fun to revisit the characters and see what they’re up to now.
The Extras:
The bonus features on the Blu-ray have your standard extras which you’d expect. There’s a gag reel, deleted scenes, and a ‘making of’ featurette. While most of the deleted scenes are nothing remarkable, there is an alternate opening and an alternate ending. The alternate opening shows Greg having a dream and in it, he’s at his wedding. The catch? The bride is Jack Byrnes. In the alternate ending, we find out that Kevin and Andi Garcia have become a couple, but that Kevin has asked her to become a blonde in order to resemble Pam. These alternate endings were fine and no better or worse than the ones in the final film. Rounding out the bonus features are a couple of short featurettes about Ben and Robert De Niro and another about Ben and Owen Wilson.
