Meet the Parents (2000)
Coming Out at 6 October 2000 in theaters.
Comedy, Romance
Meet the Parents is comedy film written by Jim Herzfeld and John Hamburg and directed by Jay Roach. Starring Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller, it chronicles a series of unfortunate events that befall a good-hearted but hapless nurse while visiting his girlfriend’s parents. Teri Polo, Blythe Danner, and Owen Wilson also star.
The film is a remake of a 1992 film of the same name directed by Greg Glienna and produced by Jim Vincent. Glienna—who also played the original one’s main protagonist—and Mary Ruth Clarke cowrote the screenplay. Universal Pictures purchased the rights to Glienna’s film with the intent of creating a new version. Jim Herzfeld expanded the original script but development was halted for some time. Jay Roach read the expanded script and expressed his desire to direct it but Universal declined him. At that time, Steven Spielberg was interested in doing so while Jim Carrey was interested in playing the lead role. The studio only offered the film to Roach once Spielberg and Carrey left the project.
Released in the United States and Canada on October 6, 2000 and distributed by Universal Pictures, the film earned back its initial budget of $55 million in only eleven days. It went on to become one of the highest-grossing films of 2000, earning over $160 million in North America and over $330 million worldwide. It was well received by film critics and viewers alike, winning several awards and earning additional nominations. Ben Stiller won two comedy awards for his performance and the film was chosen as the Favorite Comedy Motion Picture at the 2001 People’s Choice Awards. The success of the film inspired two sequels, namely Meet the Fockers and Little Fockers released in 2004 and 2010, respectively. It also inspired a reality television show titled Meet My Folks and a situation comedy titled In-Laws, both of them debuting on NBC in 2002.
Director: Jay Roach
Writers: Greg Glienna, Mary Ruth Clarke, Greg Glienna (story), Mary Ruth Clarke (story), Jim Herzfeld (screenplay), John Hamburg (screenplay)
Stars: Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, Blythe Danner, Nicole DeHuff, Jon Abrahams, Owen Wilson
Cast:
| Robert De Niro | … | Jack Byrnes |
| Ben Stiller | … | Greg Focker |
| Teri Polo | … | Pam Byrnes |
| Blythe Danner | … | Dina Byrnes |
| Nicole DeHuff | … | Deborah Byrnes |
| Jon Abrahams | … | Denny Byrnes |
| Owen Wilson | … | Kevin Rawley |
| James Rebhorn | … | Dr. Larry Banks |
| Tom McCarthy | … | Dr. Bob Banks |
| Phyllis George | … | Linda Banks |
| Kali Rocha | … | Atlantic American Flight Attendant |
| Bernie Sheredy | … | Norm the Interrogator |
| Judah Friedlander | … | Pharmacy Clerk |
| Peter Bartlett | … | Animal Shelter Worker |
| John Elsen | … | Chicago Airport Security |
| Mark Hammer | … | Greg’s Hospital Patient |
| Amy Hohn | … | Ticket Agent |
| William Severs | … | Father O’Boyle |
| John Fiore | … | Kinky |
| Marilyn Dobrin | … | Atlantic American Lost Luggage Clerk |
| Marci Reid | … | Traveler |
| Frank Santorelli | … | Courier (Wrong Bag) |
| Russell Hornsby | … | Late Night Courier (Right Bag) |
| Patricia Cook | … | Little Girl |
| Cody Arens | … | Little Boy |
| Cole Hawkins | … | Little Boy |
| Spencer Breslin | … | Little Boy |
| Ina Rosenthal | … | Wedding Worker |
| Kim Rideout | … | Nurse |
| Kresh Novakovic | … | Airport Policeman |
| John Joseph Gallagher | … | Cop |
| G.A. Aguilar | … | Cop |
| Lynn Ann Castle | … | Security Guard |
| Robbie Bryan | … | Man on Airplane |
| Phillip V. Caruso | … | Airport Baggage Swipe |
| Jon M. McDonnell | … | Bartender |
| Erik-Anders Nilsson | … | Patron on Plane |
| Alan Francis Sullivan | … | Airport Security |
| Vinny Vella Jr. | … | Little Boy |
| Buzz Visconti | … | Bar Patron |
| Todd Wall | … | Caterer #2 |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia