Quickcard Review
Little Fockers
Directed by: Paul Weitz Cast: Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Teri Polo, Owen Wilson, Jessica Alba, Dustin Hoffman, Barbara Streisand, Blythe Danner, Harvey Keitel, Laura Dern Running Time: 1 hr 46 mins Rating: PG-13 Release Date: December 22, 2010
PLOT: The Focker family now has twins. Greg (Stiller) is trying to figure out how to pay for a private school. Jack once again, becomes suspicious of Greg.
WHO'S IT FOR? People who thought Meet the Fockers was much funnier than Meet the Parents. Also, if you like seeing a joke set up five minutes before it hits the mark, this one is for you.
OVERALL
Those Fockers. Did you see what I did right there with the opening sentence? You're probably still laughing about it, but just to make sure you're in on the joke I'm going to explain it to you. Instead of using the F-bomb, I said Focker, and that's the last name of Greg and his family in this movie called Little Fockers. Also, again, just to make sure you get where the humor is coming from ... Focker sounds like the F-word, so if I say it you might think of that dirty little word without the wrath of God coming down on you for saying it.
Everything about this movie is a regression. Owen Wilson is back as Kevin who figures out once again how to pine for Pam even though she never once considers his advances. Dr. Bob cheated on Jack's other daughter, plus Jack has heart problems (how funny are heart attacks?! Am I right old people!). Then there's the attempt at a plot. Greg makes a good living, but would like more money so he moonlights for a erectile dysfunction drug company. Let's focus on that for a second. For some reason, Greg needs to keep earning money a secret. Can you imagine if Jack found out Greg was trying to make a better life for his family considering Jack wants them to have a better life? It makes no sense. Also, Jessica Alba is the drug rep who is either evil or insane. She's also named Andi Garcia, which this movie tries to sell as a joke.
Hoffman and Streisand are squeezed into this story and so are the twins. Here's an example of how effectively they are used. At one point the kids hug Streisand and she proclaims she's in the "middle of a Focker sandwich." Let's over-analyze shall we? Does she have no idea her last name sounds like a curse? Since she's a sex therapist maybe she's insanely inappropriate. Or maybe the script only thinks it has one joke. And just like The Smurfs this film must insert Fockers every two minutes.
It wasn't always like this. Meet the Parents had shock and awe. All you have to do is remember a game of family volleyball in the pool. Now, with Little Fockers it's a technique I like to call, "Are you ready for a joke? One is going to come pretty soon. Are you almost ready? Here comes a real tickler. There, did you see it?"
Oh no, a lizard. Oh no, a dump truck. Oh no, erectile medication.
Fock this.
FINAL SCORE: 2/10