18 Films for Post-Exam Season

13. Meet The Parents

After numerous gritty, powerhouse roles, such as; Vito Corleone, Travis Bickle, and Max Cady, I doubt even the biggest movie-buffs on the planet at the time would’ve thought they see Robert De Niro turn up alongside Ben Stiller in a comedy directed by the same guy who brought us Austin Powers. Yet that’s precisely what happened with Meet The Parents. Despite being of the same opinion as many, that there is no bad time to watch this film, its comedic prowess is certainly heightened in times of stress. I mean, who doesn’t enjoy relinquishing all of their reservations by winding down to one of those flicks where, pretty much everything that can go wrong for the unwitting protagonist, does.

In this case, that unfortunate little sod is one, Greg Focker (Stiller) – at least, that’s what he likes to be called – who’s intentions of proposing to, and then of course marrying his partner, Pam, are considerably thwarted for the get-go. Enter Jack Byrnes (De Niro), Pam’s traditionalist, genealogy-obsessed, hawk-eyed father, whom Greg seeks a blessing from in order to marry his daughter. Though that turns out to be far easier said that done. There are moments in this film that still have me splitting my sides just as much as when I first saw it, that are so perfectly executed, due to both the expert comic timing of those on-screen as well as those close behind the camera. I honestly defy anyone to last through the whole duration without even cracking a single smile, because as far as I’m concerned, it simply can’t be done.

 Words by Alex Graham

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