Meet the Parents
| Meet the Parents | |
|---|---|
| File:Mtpcover.jpg | |
| Directed by | Jay Roach |
| Written by | Greg Glienna & Mary Ruth Clarke Screenplay by James Herzfeld, John Hamburg |
| Produced by | Robert De Niro, Jay Roach, Jane Rosenthal, Nancy Tenenbaum |
| Starring | Ben Stiller Robert De Niro Teri Polo Blythe Danner Owen Wilson |
| Music by | Randy Newman |
| Distributed by | - USA - Universal Studios - non-USA - DreamWorks |
Release date | October 6 2000 |
Running time | 103 min. |
| Language | English |
Meet the Parents (2000) is a comedy film starring Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro. The film was distributed by Universal Studios and DreamWorks SKG and directed by Jay Roach of Austin Powers fame. In 2004 the sequel to Meet the Parents was released titled Meet the Fockers, uniting De Niro and Stiller again.
The success of the movie also spawned a reality television show entitled Meet My Folks in 2002.
It was a remake of an independent film from 1992, which has since been pulled from all distribution. The original featured Greg Glienna who wrote, starred and directed the 70 minute film by the same name. The main character was named and modeled after himself and Pam was named and modeled after his best friend's, sister-in-law Pam.
This film is number 52 on Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies".
Cast & crew
- Gaylord "Greg" Focker - Ben Stiller
- Jack Byrnes - Robert De Niro
- Pamela Byrnes - Teri Polo
- Dina Byrnes - Blythe Danner
- Deborah Byrnes - Nicole DeHuff
- Dennis Byrnes - Jon Abrahams
- Kevin Rawley - Owen Wilson
- Dr. Larry Banks - James Rebhorn
- Dr. Bob Banks - Thomas McCarthy
Synopsis
A male nurse (Greg Focker) intends to propose to his girlfriend (Pam Byrnes). But before he can even ask, he goes to visit Pam's parents' house for the weekend to ask Pam's father (Jack Byrnes) for his daughter's hand in marriage. Little does Greg know, he will have to endure a troublesome cat, Pam's ex-boyfriend, all of Pam's relatives, and her intrusive father, Jack Byrnes, a retired CIA operative who wonders if Greg is good enough for Pam and is constantly suspicious of Greg's morals and background. Jack uses mind games, lie detector tests, and constant questions to push Greg over the edge. Greg will have to overcome Jack's interrogations and tests to finally persuade Jack to allow him to marry his daughter. At one point towards the end, Jack says to his wife Dina, "Just gotta do one more thing. Meet his parents.", thus paving the way for Meet the Fockers.
Box office
The film was successful, grossing $330.4 million worldwide.
Trivia
- The film perpetuates the urban legend that the song "Puff, the Magic Dragon" is about smoking marijuana.
- A scene in the movie focuses around the Byrnes family trying on tuxedos for the wedding; in the marriage at the end of the movie, no one is wearing a tuxedo.