Thanks for checking out our Little Fockers DVD Review
Genre: Comedy
Directed by: Paul Weitz
Staring: Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand
Released: December 22nd, 2010 – DVD April 5th, 2011
THE GENERAL IDEA
It has taken 10 years, two little Fockers with wife Pam (Polo) and countless hurdles for Greg to finally get “in” with his tightly wound father-in-law, Jack. After the cash-strapped dad takes a job moonlighting for a drug company, however, Jack’s suspicions about his favorite male nurse come roaring back.
When Greg and Pam’s entire clan—including Pam’s lovelorn ex, Kevin (Owen Wilson)—descends for the twins’ birthday party, Greg must prove to the skeptical Jack that he’s fully capable as the man of the house. But with all the misunderstandings, spying and covert missions, will Greg pass Jack’s final test and become the family’s next patriarch…or will the circle of trust be broken for good?
THE GOOD
The supporting cast in this movie makes the film work outside of the repeated doubts and insecurities of Greg and Jack’s tenuous relationship. Jessica Alba’s overly perky pharmacutical sales rep character is actually very enjoyable. Normally Abla is just a pretty face, but she works well in this film. And of course Owen Wilson returns and is a gem.
This movie is really funny. Just as funny as the previous chapters of this story. It’s always great to see Stiller and Owen Wilson interact, and it honestly doesn’t get tired watching Stiller be insecure around De Niro. There is an emotional breakthrough when Greg finally unloads on Jack and its worth wading through two and a half films to get to.
THE BAD
I really don’t know why this movie is called Little Fockers. Yes, Greg has kids now, and its a birthday party for those kids that draws the characters together, but the movie has NOTHING to do with them outside of that. It is just another opportunity to have these two conflict and watch the funny roll out of it.
As much as they do the Greg/Jack conflict well, it is also the same conflict we have seen twice before. After two films of seeing these Greg prove his worthiness it does get tired that Jack once again doubts the intentions of his son-in-law. But they do it so well that the circumstance is less a drawback due to solid execution.
DVD Features
The Bluray/DVD combo set is the copy I recieved, and it is filled with all you would expect. No big surprises here. There are featurettes about how the whole Fockers trio of films evolved, how the characters have grown and how the actors’ relationships have evolved. (It wasn’t until this film that Stiller stopped calling him Mr DeNiro)
Also included are the standard run of gag reels and deleted scenes, however the gag reel is mostly just actors breaking during lines and the deleted scenes look like they were removed for a reason. Pacing, storytelling etc. Nothing that tips the perception of the movie or reveals much.
OVERALL
I did enjoy the film. Which says much considering how this treads so dangerously on “more of the same” from the first two movies. It is a lot of fun and worth the laughs – not bust a gut laughs, but very amusing. Its really hard to do that on a third chapter when revisiting the same theme again.
I give Little Fockers a 7 out of 10
You can pick up Little Fockers on Bluray and DVD on April 5th, next week.
