Meet the Fockers (2004) is a comedy film and a sequel to Meet the Parents starring Robert DeNiro and Ben Stiller. Both were directed by Jay Roach (Austin Powers). In addition to DeNiro and Stiller, Meet the Fockers had an all-star cast of Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand, Teri Polo, Blythe Danner, Owen Wilson and Tim Blake Nelson.

The film satirises both the extreme conservative and liberal ways of life and its release in a US presidential election year was seen as an intervention in the national debate.

The film also makes fun of the Ferber method of child rearing in which a child is left to cry until it learns to 'self comfort'.

The makers demonstrated that the name Focker was an actual surname in use in North America in order to deflect accusations of profanity.

Brief Synopsis and Character Analysis

After being given permission to marry the daughter of a retired CIA agent, Gaylord "Greg" Focker, his fiancee Pam and her parents travel to Miami, Florida to meet his quirky liberal parents, Roz and Bernie Focker.

Greg Focker- (Ben Stiller). The protagonist of the movie. A male nurse living in Chicago with girlfriend (now fiancee) Pam, attempts to marry the daughter of a retired CIA agent, however along the way gets into trouble and mischief.

Jack Byrnes- Pam's father and Dina's husband (Robert DeNiro). Even though he is retired, he is still very much in the CIA. Using his "CIA" connections, he was able to plan a surprise honeymoon for his second child, Debbie and track down information on Pam's boyfriend Greg. He is also the inventor of a Motion Sensor Nanny-Cam. His coverup job is a retired florist.

Pam Martha (Byrnes) Focker- (Teri Polo). Pam is Greg's fiancee. She is a school teacher in Chicago and lives with Greg. Before starting a relationship with Greg, she was engaged briefly to Kevin, who she is still linked to.

Dina Byrnes- (Blythe Danner). The wife of Jack Byrnes, mother of Pam, Debbie and Denny.

Roz Focker- Jewish mom of Greg Focker, (Barbra Streisand) is a Sex Therapist for Senior Citizens in Miami and lives on "Focker Isle" with husband, Bernard.

Bernie Focker- Father of Greg, (Dustin Hoffman) was a attorney for a brief period of time, became a homemaker after the birth of son, Greg. Lives on "Focker Isle" in Miami, with wife Roz. His fondness for chimichangas is a recurring joke within the film.

Little Jack- (Spencer & Bradley Pickren) aged about 1 plays Jack's grandson by his other daughter. Jack is grooming to be a genius using unconventional child rearing methods. He has probably the youngest speaking part in films by his skilled use of baby sign language .