Meet the Fockers
Links
—Overview
—Trailers, Photos
—Spiritual Connections
From teen movies to the latest Meg Ryan or Julia Roberts film, many of today’s comedies deal with the idea of falling in love, making a relationship work, and the amusing and sometimes hilariously painful path a couple takes to get there. The movies focus on two characters, their quirks, complications, and individual lives. In both Meet the Parents and its sequel Meet the Fockers, however, each movie recognizes a reality rarely addressed in romantic comedies yet known by anyone who has ever been in or near a serious relationship—when it comes to marrying or even seriously dating another person, you are never simply dating or marrying one person, you are marrying his or her entire family.
When Meet the Parents hit theaters 2000, Greg Focker was getting ready to propose to Pam Byrnes. Then, he went to meet her parents. The moment he arrived, ex-CIA agent Jack Byrnes was already investigating him, trying to dig up any and every skeleton in his past, and bringing to life every man’s worst nightmare of the father who believes no one less than Mr. Perfect himself is good enough for his “little girl.� Greg did his best, tried to impress his prospective in-laws, but just ended up making every possible mistake and completing the nightmare of the worst meeting-the-parents scenario imaginable. The movie was hilarious, but each laugh was just as painful as it was funny. For while each situation was amusing on screen, the anxiety, embarrassment, and need to impress behind each laugh were simply too real for comfort.
Despite the painful hilarity that Greg faced meeting the Byrnes, Meet the Parents ended with an engagement between him and Pam. At the end, Greg had managed to make it into the good graces of the Byrnes…the problem was, they still had to meet his family.
Picking up at this next critical step towards marriage, Meet the Fockers takes audiences along for the ride as the Byrnes meet the Fockers for the first time. Joining the returning cast of Meet the Parents, Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand bring their own distinct comedic talents to the already hilariously entertaining Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro; together, all the actors to bring to life the extreme personality differences that make Meet the Fockers what it is. Without quite as many painful and embarrassing situations as in Meet the Parents, the movie is less tense but just funny as the first. Some of the humor is different and some is same. And while some of the laughs are as simple as Focker jokes, a baby learning his first words, and a dog dyed blue, the entire movie is filled with characters and situations that keep, not just a few people, but entire theaters laughing from the beginning to the end. More than just an entertaining comedy, however, the movie paints a clear picture of how very different two families, the way they look at life, and the way they see other people can be.
As Jack continues to probe into Greg’s past, Jack, once again, exhibits a way of living and interacting with others that is primarily judgmental and focused on perfection. He snubs his nose at Greg’s 9th place ribbons, raises his eyebrows at the Fockers’ less than mainstream or high powered careers, and jumps at the chance to cut down Greg for any and every piece of his life that is less than ideal.
Also joining the cast, the Byrnes’ grandson, Little Jack, emphasizes Jack’s high expectations for anyone who is going to be connected with him. Jack teaches the baby signs to communicate and chastises anyone who speaks to him as less than an intelligent adult. Instead of holding the baby when he cries, Jack refuses to give him any attention stating that the child must learn to self-soothe. And far from embracing the role of an over-loving always-spoiling grandparent, Jack simply focuses on making sure the child turns out nothing short of perfect.
In contrast to Jack, the Fockers demonstrate an outlook on life that celebrates reality instead of demanding perfection, knows everything yet does not judge, and revels in expressions of love and affirmation. While Jack looks down at Greg’s 9th place ribbons, Roz and Bernie mount them on a wall for display. “It’s not about winning or losing; it’s about passion…� says Bernie. Pointing to Greg’s head and heart, Bernie expresses his belief in value beyond ribbons and ideals, “You’re a winner up here and in here; that’s all that matters.�
As their lives merge again, Jack brings back a repeated expression from Meet the Parents as he continues to tell Greg, “I am watching you.� He watches so that he can know everything about Greg and make sure Greg is known for all of his imperfections. Although they are not CIA agents, the Fockers also carefully watch over their son. They know every detail—good, bad, and embarrassing—about his life. They even notice and figure out something that Jack misses. The difference between them and Jack is that, while they are watching and while they know it all, they do not seek to tear down; rather, they seek to build up.
Between Jack and the Fockers, we see a distinct contrast in families, parents, and the way people see value in themselves and others. Through Jack, we see the pressures present in so many parts of life that demand perfection and self-sufficiency, reject anything less, and refuse to see imperfection as anything but a failure that will forever be a part of who we are. In the Fockers, however, the movie shows us that even as we seek the best for ourselves and others, the world’s ideals need not define every person’s ideal, that less than ideal does not equal complete failure, and that focusing on the good instead of the bad and loving each other as much as we can goes a lot further than condemning anything less than perfect and leaving everyone to do everything alone.
In a world where so many situations bring out the anxiety and fear of needing to impress, be perfect, and live up to an ideal, Meet the Fockers is a welcome reminder that love can overshadow any and every less than ideal aspect of our lives. The movie reminds us of how important love is within a family. It paints us a picture of a father and mother who truly love their family and, in this, portrays a love quite like that of a heavenly father who loves us all more than even the Fockers love their son. While God may not be exactly like Bernie Focker, the exuberant, life affirming love that the Fockers share with everyone reveals the heart of God’s love and His desire to dwell not on our faults but recognize and grow everything we have to celebrate.
At the end of it all, after many laughs and just as many smiles, the movie sends us back to lives inevitably shared with others and simply asks us to not only share our lives but also share love and know that there is love to be shared with us.
Links
—Overview
—Trailers, Photos
—Spiritual Connections
—Overview
—Trailers, Photos
—Spiritual Connections
From teen movies to the latest Meg Ryan or Julia Roberts film, many of today’s comedies deal with the idea of falling in love, making a relationship work, and the amusing and sometimes hilariously painful path a couple takes to get there. The movies focus on two characters, their quirks, complications, and individual lives. In both Meet the Parents and its sequel Meet the Fockers, however, each movie recognizes a reality rarely addressed in romantic comedies yet known by anyone who has ever been in or near a serious relationship—when it comes to marrying or even seriously dating another person, you are never simply dating or marrying one person, you are marrying his or her entire family.
When Meet the Parents hit theaters 2000, Greg Focker was getting ready to propose to Pam Byrnes. Then, he went to meet her parents. The moment he arrived, ex-CIA agent Jack Byrnes was already investigating him, trying to dig up any and every skeleton in his past, and bringing to life every man’s worst nightmare of the father who believes no one less than Mr. Perfect himself is good enough for his “little girl.� Greg did his best, tried to impress his prospective in-laws, but just ended up making every possible mistake and completing the nightmare of the worst meeting-the-parents scenario imaginable. The movie was hilarious, but each laugh was just as painful as it was funny. For while each situation was amusing on screen, the anxiety, embarrassment, and need to impress behind each laugh were simply too real for comfort.
Despite the painful hilarity that Greg faced meeting the Byrnes, Meet the Parents ended with an engagement between him and Pam. At the end, Greg had managed to make it into the good graces of the Byrnes…the problem was, they still had to meet his family.
Picking up at this next critical step towards marriage, Meet the Fockers takes audiences along for the ride as the Byrnes meet the Fockers for the first time. Joining the returning cast of Meet the Parents, Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand bring their own distinct comedic talents to the already hilariously entertaining Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro; together, all the actors to bring to life the extreme personality differences that make Meet the Fockers what it is. Without quite as many painful and embarrassing situations as in Meet the Parents, the movie is less tense but just funny as the first. Some of the humor is different and some is same. And while some of the laughs are as simple as Focker jokes, a baby learning his first words, and a dog dyed blue, the entire movie is filled with characters and situations that keep, not just a few people, but entire theaters laughing from the beginning to the end. More than just an entertaining comedy, however, the movie paints a clear picture of how very different two families, the way they look at life, and the way they see other people can be.
As Jack continues to probe into Greg’s past, Jack, once again, exhibits a way of living and interacting with others that is primarily judgmental and focused on perfection. He snubs his nose at Greg’s 9th place ribbons, raises his eyebrows at the Fockers’ less than mainstream or high powered careers, and jumps at the chance to cut down Greg for any and every piece of his life that is less than ideal.
Also joining the cast, the Byrnes’ grandson, Little Jack, emphasizes Jack’s high expectations for anyone who is going to be connected with him. Jack teaches the baby signs to communicate and chastises anyone who speaks to him as less than an intelligent adult. Instead of holding the baby when he cries, Jack refuses to give him any attention stating that the child must learn to self-soothe. And far from embracing the role of an over-loving always-spoiling grandparent, Jack simply focuses on making sure the child turns out nothing short of perfect.
In contrast to Jack, the Fockers demonstrate an outlook on life that celebrates reality instead of demanding perfection, knows everything yet does not judge, and revels in expressions of love and affirmation. While Jack looks down at Greg’s 9th place ribbons, Roz and Bernie mount them on a wall for display. “It’s not about winning or losing; it’s about passion…� says Bernie. Pointing to Greg’s head and heart, Bernie expresses his belief in value beyond ribbons and ideals, “You’re a winner up here and in here; that’s all that matters.�
As their lives merge again, Jack brings back a repeated expression from Meet the Parents as he continues to tell Greg, “I am watching you.� He watches so that he can know everything about Greg and make sure Greg is known for all of his imperfections. Although they are not CIA agents, the Fockers also carefully watch over their son. They know every detail—good, bad, and embarrassing—about his life. They even notice and figure out something that Jack misses. The difference between them and Jack is that, while they are watching and while they know it all, they do not seek to tear down; rather, they seek to build up.
Between Jack and the Fockers, we see a distinct contrast in families, parents, and the way people see value in themselves and others. Through Jack, we see the pressures present in so many parts of life that demand perfection and self-sufficiency, reject anything less, and refuse to see imperfection as anything but a failure that will forever be a part of who we are. In the Fockers, however, the movie shows us that even as we seek the best for ourselves and others, the world’s ideals need not define every person’s ideal, that less than ideal does not equal complete failure, and that focusing on the good instead of the bad and loving each other as much as we can goes a lot further than condemning anything less than perfect and leaving everyone to do everything alone.
In a world where so many situations bring out the anxiety and fear of needing to impress, be perfect, and live up to an ideal, Meet the Fockers is a welcome reminder that love can overshadow any and every less than ideal aspect of our lives. The movie reminds us of how important love is within a family. It paints us a picture of a father and mother who truly love their family and, in this, portrays a love quite like that of a heavenly father who loves us all more than even the Fockers love their son. While God may not be exactly like Bernie Focker, the exuberant, life affirming love that the Fockers share with everyone reveals the heart of God’s love and His desire to dwell not on our faults but recognize and grow everything we have to celebrate.
At the end of it all, after many laughs and just as many smiles, the movie sends us back to lives inevitably shared with others and simply asks us to not only share our lives but also share love and know that there is love to be shared with us.
Links
—Overview
—Trailers, Photos
—Spiritual Connections
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