In 2000, I laughed a lot at Greg’s (Ben) misadventures while trying to impress Pam’s (Teri) parents. Jack (Robert), the former CIA agent and imposing figure, was less-than happy about his future son-in-law, the male nurse. Who didn’t laugh at the cat/ashes and lie detector scenes? Unfortunately, the question in viewing the sequel is “Who would laugh at this disarray of mundane scenes?” So off base was this that I contemplated leaving before its end. The storyline was well beyond the suspension of disbelief mode, being very similar to a microwave-heated waffle: bland and hard to swallow.

Jack and Dina Byrnes (Blythe) join the couple on a road trip to meet Greg’s parents who are as free-spirited as the Byrnes’ are stiff: Bernie (Dustin), is an attorney who chose to be a stay-home dad and Roz (Barbra) provides sex counseling to senior citizens. Even the pets don’t get along. But, it doesn’t matter because everything, with the exception of the chemistry between Dustin and Barbra is an utter waste of time, anyway.

Where did Meet the Fockers go wrong? When Greg smashed his rental car’s windshield after refusing rental insurance? When Little Jack communicated his feelings about his future uncle-in-law? Witnessing Bernie’s karate moves? Seeing Greg’s foreskin from his bris? No, I think before that. For something to be so uninspired and slow, I suspect this went very wrong long before the actors ever made it to the set. Bad move, folks.