MovieChat Forums > Meet the Parents (2000) Discussion > Tried so hard to like this movie but

Tried so hard to like this movie but

posted 9 years ago by JeanieK3873
8 replies | jump to latest

I thought Jack and the family and friends surrounding him were very cruel. I know it is supposed to be a comedy, but I just felt bad for Focker the whole time. I don't particularly care for Ben Stiller movies, but I am a die-hard De Niro fan, so I gave this a shot. It had a few comedic scenes, but in my humble opinion, it mostly invoked a somewhat angry emotion from me because I cannot accept people who treat others so badly. I would have left that house as soon as I possibly could if I were Focker (and never looked back.)

[–] yusef-ghanima 9 years ago

i hated the political message, but you must be masochist posting this here!

i mostly will not be able to answer your reply, since marissa mayer hacked my email, no notification

[–] PreachCaleb 9 years ago

but I just felt bad for Focker the whole time.

You're supposed to. He's a sympathetic character.

That being said, the movie's hilarious.

Can't stop the signal.

[–] AmyJolamb 8 years ago

That's the point of the movie. Most men are suppose to relate to Greg and him trying hard to impress his future wife's family. I mean as a woman I could relate thinking about meeting my future in laws. It's an awkward time.

Naturally any father is protective over his daughter and Jack is an example of what I'm sure most dads want to do.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] oprlvr33 8 years ago

Sorry.... but I've been in Greg's situation before.

I found nothing at all amusing over this situation. Atop of poking fun at Greg for being a male nurse.. Spoiled, immature Pam, selfishly pleading with him to just suck up the mistreatment and be a good sport.. I would have bailed the first available flight outta there, and told her she could truthfully explain to the folks why---and to have a nice life.

And I didn't buy the overprotective father bit. Pam is an adult. I was like, Whatever.

The film just fell flat.

Peanutlee33

[–] danlinjer 7 years ago

I agree. They all were over the top cruel to Greg, especially during the volleyball game and when the septic tank overflowed. It was clearly Jack's fault for not maintaing the septic tank and emptying it in the first place, especially before a big wedding. Instead, Jack blamed Greg for the whole thing because he had the gall to flush a damn toilet! Of course, the end scene I the house where the fake cat thrashed the he place would have been my que to tell that cruel family all to F off and catch the next plane to Chicago, without Pam!

[–] Rolltide (964) 3 years ago

I agree the mean spirited attitudes were way over the top especially for people who do not know you. Once you are in the family a little ribbing about your name or profession can be tolerated but this was not that.

I would have taken Deb's fiancé outside and pummeled him.

If an entire family of people are going to belittle you for your career choice there is no reason to be a part of them.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

It's an interesting movie, because in some ways, it's very realistic (showing how the imposed masculine role ruins men's lives so easily, although all they try to do is to do their best to be 'good men'),

but in some other ways, it does fall a bit flat.

I don't like any of the characters or the actors in this movie, Ben Stiller especially makes me feel weird and a bit repulsed for some reason that I don't know.
(Similar feeling to Adam Sandler in that sense, except that Adam Sandler is not as good an actor, etc.)

So I don't have a raptor in this race. I think they're all relatively evil and untolerable people, I wouldn't stand many minutes with any of them near me.

However, the situations are strange and some are relatively interesting in all their cartoony goofiness, but the whole 'romance aspect' doesn't really work. There's nothing to like about Pam, and I don't see what she would see in Greg, either. Greg is not a high-status male, he's a bit whiny and wimpy, and those qualities usually fail to turn on a woman.

Pam is a bulgy-eyed 'forgettableface' with annoying voice and skin problems on her back, and she doesn't really help Greg - they don't work as a team whatsoever. She's a selfish [insert a not-allowed-word here] and I would run away from a woman like that.

Jack is unlikable, manipulative, lying and a bit of a control-freak, plus he spoils his pet animals.

Everyone else just bullies a stranger the first time they meet him - holy cow, where's their human decency?

So I can basically watch this movie without any emotional investment, because I hate everyone in the movie. I can thus focus on the situations and the 'comedy' side of it - not that it makes me laugh, because the movie isn't funny.

But it's .. hm.. now that I think of it, I can't really think of anything this movie does well, or why I would want to watch it.