Greg Focker is ready to marry his girlfriend, Pam, but before he pops the question, he must win over her formidable father, humorless former CIA agent Jack Byrnes, at the wedding of Pam's sister. As Greg bends over backward to make a good impression, his visit to the Byrnes home turns into a hilarious series of disasters, and everything that can go wrong does, all under Jack's critical, hawklike gaze.
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 7 wins & 15 nominations total
Top Critics Reviews
fresh:
A hilarious hodgepodge of The In-Laws and Annie Hall, in which De Niro gives his best comic performance to date.
– Peter Travers,
Rolling Stone,
4 Jun 2001
rotten:
When the script puts its faith in the audience, allowing us to find the laughs on our own, the film is irresistible, a bright lark. Yet when the writers panic, upping the antic volume and shifting into crazed sitcom gear, the lark stops.
– Rick Groen,
Globe and Mail,
22 Mar 2002
fresh:
Astutely observed, subtly played and consistently hilarious...
– Derek Adams,
Time Out,
9 Feb 2006
fresh:
Alas, poor Focker. He can't help himself. And we can't help ourselves from falling about, equally helpless, at this superbly antic movie.
– Richard Schickel,
TIME Magazine,
15 Aug 2008
rotten:
Scenes that should have been uproarious are weaker than many of the movie's smaller moments, whose everyday humor isn't specific to the plot or characters.