MovieChat Forums > Meet the Parents (2000) Discussion > Were the Brynes meant to be WASPs?

Were the Brynes meant to be WASPs?


This film and its sequels make a lot out of the ethnic and cultural differences between Greg's Jewish liberal family and his girlfriend's conservative WASP family, so it seems a bit odd to cast Robert De Niro as the patriarch of the 'WASP' family and Jon Abrahams as his son. Even the blonde Teri Polo, who I understand is partly Italian-American, doesn't really give off the blue-blooded American-patriarch vibe.

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I'd imagine that's how the Byrnes were envisioned in writing, but maybe the producers began to factor in talent, chemistry and other things while casting the film. Either way I agree if you pay attention to these things in film it's a bit odd.

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You mean the "red blooded" American patriarch? Conservatives are distinguished by red and liberals by blue.

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I think he's going by the "noble birth" definition of blue-blood, specifically meaning WASPs with old money.

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Robert was great in the role but I agree, he didn't look Anglo Saxon. It wasn't particularly convincing in that manner in a blue-blooded kind of way. In the film ''Get out'' (which wasn't exactly the greatest movie) the actor picked to play the WASP psychiatrist father was ideal casting. Very intimidating.

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