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Meet the Parents Review


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DVD

"When Greg Focker decides the time is right to propose to his girlfriend Pam he hadn't banked on meeting her parents first."
Disc format
DVD
Picture
1.85:1
Sound
Dolby Digital (5.1)
Running time
1 Hour 48 Minutes
Region(s)
1
Rating
PG-13 (US)
Genre
Comedy
Review date
25th February 2001
Recommended
No
Cast
Robert De Niro
Ben Stiller
Teri Polo
Blythe Danner
Nicole DeHuff
Jon Abrahams
Thomas McCarthy
Phyllis George
James Rebhorn
Owen Wilson
Character
Jack Byrnes
Greg Focker
Pam Byrnes
Dina Byrnes
Debbie Byrnes
Denny Byrnes
Bob Banks
Linda Banks
Larry Banks
Kevin Rawley
Story
Male nurse Greg Focker is madly in love with his girlfriend Pam and he plans an elaborate proposal using Pam's school class. Unfortunately, moments before he proposes Pam's mobile phone rings and her sister Debbie steals Greg's thunder by announcing that she's engaged. He also overhears that Debbie's boyfriend had sought approval from her father so he decides to do the same when they visit the Byrnes family home.
Unfortunately, things get off to a bad start when his bag goes AWOL at the airport. Things soon go from bad to worse when Greg's attempts to impress Pam's father go drastically wrong. What ever he does and touches results in disaster after disaster as he turns into a one man wrecking crew, so much so I'd have packed up and go home long before the end of the film.
Picture and Sound
The picture is bright and colourful, if a little washed out, and has an above average bit-rate through out the film resulting in a clean and clear image. There's no signs of artifacting and with the film stock being new there are no picture imperfections or scratches.
By providing both a Dolby Digital and DTS soundtrack on the DVD you can judge for yourself which sound format is better than the other. Unfortunately, this film is not the best one to make that judgment as far too little happens in the surround channels. Both formats come across well with the dialogue being clearly audible in the centre channel. However, I'm sure that the 'are your sure you're not thick' message when you select the DTS soundtrack has gone on long enough - thank you, but we don't need it anymore!
Menu and Extras
The extras are great, and they contain my favourite extra - outtakes, although they do end up being rather boring after the fifth scene of the Robert Di Niro laughing. However, the commentary with the cast members is reasonable enough with plenty of comments from Ben Stiller and so little from Robert Niro, unless he was prompted to say something, I don't know why he bothered. There is also one hidden gem in the Universal showcase section of the disc - a trailer for The Mummy 2.
Overall
Similar to his appearance in Analyze This, Robert Di Niro is funny without even attempting it and with Ben Stiller on top form you'll laugh from start to finish. My favourite line from the film must have been when Jack sat up in bed and turned to his wife and said "Do you realise that Pam's middle name is Martha?" I laughed so much, so I'll leave that one to work out for yourself!
Along with a tremendous amount of extras, and an extremely funny film to boot, this is a real must buy, so go buy it!
Extras Overview
  • Spotlight on Location
  • Feature Commentary with Director Jay Roach and Editor Jon Poll
  • Feature Commentary with Cast Members Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Director Jay Roach and Producer Jane Rosenthal
  • Deleted Scenes with Commentary
  • Outtakes
  • Lie Detector Test
  • Forecaster Game
  • Production Notes
  • Cast and Filmmakers Biographies and Film Highlights
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Universal Showcase
  • DVD-ROM Enhanced
Other Reviews Available with these Actors
Robert De Niro
Ben Stiller
Teri Polo
Blythe Danner
Jon Abrahams
James Rebhorn
Owen Wilson
Reviewed By
Simon
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