We met the parents. We met the Fockers. But did we really need to meet the little Fockers? The answer is simple: no. The latest Focker installment, "Little Fockers," focuses not on the newest additions to the Focker family, twins, but on the already explored relationship between Greg Focker and Jack Byrnes.
The film begins with Greg Focker, a male nurse, approaching his twins' sixth birthdays and still seeking the approval of his father-in-law, Jack Byrnes. Followers of the franchise will notice a new addition to the plot, a drug company sales representative who instantly falls for Focker, Andi Garcia, played by Jessica Alba.
The movie's first problem is Jessica Alba's unbelievably poor acting skills. During the entire 97 excruciating minutes she produced only a single laugh in the theater. A ludicrous plot makes her character even more frustrating: it's difficult to believe that she instantly falls for Focker after the pair carry out an anal exam together
The film is successful in making a mockery of legendary actors like Robert Di Niro, Barbra Streisand and Dustin Hoffman, proving that even the best actors cannot redeem a predictable plot filled with cheap laughs. It is painful to watch these actors continuously demean themselves throughout the film. The only reason one can think of that they'd agree to this movie is that these actors may be past their prime and are only in it for the money.
However, the biggest problem in the film is its complete lack of humor. "Little Fockers" goes only for the cheapest of laughs (for example, accidently giving Viagra to heart patients), which leaves viewers with the impression that they could have written a smarter, less predictable plot.
Luckily for movie goers, the film is only 97 minutes long. Still, the film feels longer due to its dragging plot and derivative material. The plot moves slowly from one bad joke to the next, all the while diminishing any hopes for the "Meet the Parents" franchise to continue. At its best, the film resembles a made for television movie -- and at its worst it will enrage theatergoers for having paid $12 to see it.
Elizabeth Molina can be reached at: Elizabeth.molina@student.shu.edu
