Review: LITTLE FOCKERS

It seems that with most film franchises and series the old adage “the third time’s the charm” does not hold true. From SPIDER-MAN 3 to GODFATHER 3 most have struck out at their third time at bat. Such is the case of LITTLE FOCKERS that follow-up to 2004’s MEET THE FOCKERS, a sequel to 2000’s MEET THE PARENTS. The last film brought a bit of new life to the comedy series by the introduction of Greg (Gaylord) Focker’s parents, but this new entry introducing  his twins doesn’t really inject much life in the formula established in the original 2000 film.

This time around we find Greg (Ben Stiller) and Pam (Teri Polo) trying to make ends meet while raising their twins Henry and Samantha. Greg’s heading the nursing staff at a Chicago hospital and decides to moonlight for a pharmaceutical firm repped by the young and lovely Andi Garcia( Like the macho actor! Get it?!) played by Jessica Alba. Late one night Greg gets a call from his father-in-law Jack Byrnes (Robert DeNiro) after he has had a heart “episode”(luckily Jack was able to de-fibrillate himself with the wiring from his old, trusty lie detector). Jack is crushed that his daughter’s hubby Dr. Bob has left her. Since Bob is out of the picture, Jack wants Greg to take over as head of the family: to become “the godfocker.” Meanwhile Greg is preparing for the twin’s birthday(which Jack and his wife Dina will attend) and is dealing with a shady home contractor (Harvey Keitel) who insists that Greg’s new house will be ready in time to hold the festivities. Soon Pam’s perfect ex-boyfriend Kevin (Owen Wilson) arrives in town after being dumped by his super model girlfriend. Big misunderstandings and slapstick calamities ensue on the way to the big birthday celebration.

In describing the film, I’ve left out several subplots that start, stop, then resume during it’s 98 minute running time.It almost feels like three or four episodes of a proposed sitcom stitched together (Jack and Greg confront the contractor, Jack and Greg visit a private school, etc). Paul Weitz (AMERICAN PIE) replaces the director of the first two films Jay Roach and does the best he can to keep these different plots rolling along. Unfortunately the leading actresses are given very little to do in their roles. Polo looks exasperated and is sidelined with the flu so Jack and Greg can have more adventures. Blythe Danner as Dina is there to entice Jack into trying one of the erectile dysfunction pills from Greg’s sample bag to hilarious (?) results. Alba is there mainly as a bubble-headed temptress who causes more misunderstandings. Laura Dern is wasted in a thankless role as the headmistress of a trendy private school. Luckily Owen Wilson shows up as the clueless Kevin to bring some life to the film (much like Owen did with the dismal HOW DO YOU KNOW).  Barbra Streisand and Dustin Hoffman, so delightful as Greg’s parents Roz and Bernie in the last film, are regulated to brief cameos that bookend this movie. The biggest problem is that the two lead actors seem to be going through the motions with nothing new to do. Stiller does his “I’m uncomfortable” schtick but never gets to really cut loose with his manic ranting and raging. Speaking of raging, it’s seems the raging bull himself is content to play a caricature of his old roles. With this series and the analyze films with Billy Crystal, all sense of danger in DeNiro seems to be gone. He’s just an old,cuddly, grumpy bear. It’s disheartening to see the premiere American film actor of the 70’s and 80’s doing “boner” jokes and getting a ton of sand dumped on him. Now that we’ve met the parents and the kids let’s hope they all retire  and stay in movie comedy suburbia. These actors (and the movie going public) deserve better.

Overall Rating: 2 1/2 out of 5 stars