Film Focus
Comedian Ben Stiller (Zoolander) and Hollywood heavyweight Robert De Niro (Raging Bull) reunite in Little Fockers (HBO; tonight at 10pm), the third instalment of the Meet the Parents franchise.
A health scare leads family patriarch Jack Byrnes (De Niro) to consider his son-in-law Gaylord 'Greg' Focker (Stiller) as next in line to the family throne. Greg, desperate once again to win Jack's approval, tries to prove himself worthy of the honour while juggling his two children, wife (Teri Polo; below with Stiller), her one-time flame (Owen Wilson; Wedding Crashers) and an amorous pharmaceutical representative (Jessica Alba; Valentine's Day) who wants Greg to be the spokesman for a new erectile-dysfunction drug.
With the twins' birthday approaching and party planning hitting glitches, Greg is faced with the choice of trying to live up to Jack's expectations or being the husband and father he truly wants to be.
While this may not be the greatest film ever made (by a long shot), Little Fockers does allow Stiller and De Niro, along with co-stars Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand, to showcase the lewder side of their considerable acting skills. Golden Globe winner Laura Dern (Enlightened) makes a pitch-perfect guest appearance as the director of an elite kindergarten.