5.4 | / 10 |
Users | 3.7 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.3 |
Family-patriarch Jack Byrnes wants to appoint a successor. Does his son-in-law, the "male nurse", Greg Focker have what it takes?
Starring: Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Teri Polo, Owen Wilson, Blythe DannerComedy | 100% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS 5.1
Spanish: DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy (as download)
DVD copy
BD-Live
Mobile features
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
The Godfocker? "It's an attitude, Greg. It's a confidence. It's the way you carry yourself that lets the world know the buck stops with you." Cue Robert De Niro pointing to a cheesy photo of Ben Stiller with "Gaylord Focker, R.N." printed neatly beneath it. It isn't Little Fockers' first "Focker" gag, and it certainly isn't its last. We're expected to laugh, of course, because it's Vito Corleone himself who spits out the term "Godfocker." But it's actually the first real sign of trouble in an obnoxiously redundant franchise outing sure to be followed by The Hurt Focker, Where the Red Focker Grows and Fockers, Meet the Sheetings. That's right, dear readers. The Byrnes and the Fockers are back for more vowel play, swapping o's for u's as if the joke hadn't already been exhausted in filmmaker Jay Roach's outrageously funny Meet the Parents and grown tiresome in its shaky 2004 sequel, Meet the Fockers. Roach's A-list cast is back for more as well, albeit without their commander in chief. Though still a producer, Roach passes the Parents torch to hit-or-miss director Paul Weitz, whose About a Boy was one of the best films of 2002 and whose Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant was one of the worst films of 2009. Unfortunately, Weitz fails on several fronts, screenwriters John Hamburg and Larry Stuckey come up empty-handed, and the series' Focker wordplay isn't the only thing that grows stale.
No more Mr. Nice Focker...
Hot and heavy, Little Fockers' 1080p/VC-1 transfer makes the most of director of photography Remi Adefarasin's bronzed skintones, burnt sienna primaries and overheated palette. Color and contrast isn't consistent (low-lit interior scenes are dull and a tad murky), but they are fairly consistent with Weitz and Adefarasin's intentions. Likewise, black levels are oppressive, but only insofar as the filmmakers push them to be. Otherwise, the image is satisfying, offering plenty of crisp, well-resolved textures, refined edges and particularly pleasing closeups. From the files and photos adorning Jack's lair to the artwork hanging on the walls in Greg's office, everything is dutifully rendered without many technical hitches. It isn't perfect -- a few soft shots distract and some rather glaring ringing appears from time to time -- but it amounts to a small hiccup at best. Artifacting, banding, aliasing and the like are nowhere to be found, and intermittent oversaturation is the only other flaw worth noting. Little Fockers isn't pretty, but its high definition presentation is pretty good.
Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track slips into a familiar genre rut, but it isn't entirely unexpected. Stephen Trask's mischievous score takes advantage of the entire soundfield, filling each channel with playful percussion and toe-tapping rhythms. Unfortunately, the music -- the most immersive aspect of the mix -- surges at the expense of dialogue clarity. Voices, while clean and clear on the whole, are sometimes forced to compete with Trask's score. And they don't always come out on top. (The opening sequence alone suffers from an unnecessary tug-of-war between Stiller and Polo's morning farewells and the film's main theme.) Luckily, it isn't a prevailing problem and only crops up on occasion. LFE output is noteworthy, the rear speakers aren't aggressive by any means but they are sufficiently engaging, and directionality, though somewhat careless early on, proves to be suitably convincing as Greg and Jack inch toward their final showdown. If anything, Little Fockers is yet another chatty, front-heavy comedy with a chatty, front-heavy track. It isn't disappointing, it isn't amazing; it's simply a serviceable genre mix sure to appease series fans.
The Blu-ray release of Little Fockers doesn't offer much in the way of supplemental content -- a few deleted scenes, a handful of behind-the-scenes quickies and a smattering of additional extras, all presented in high definition -- but its special features are appreciated nonetheless.
I was hoping for a reinvention, I suppose; an evolution of the formula that made Meet the Parents one of 2000's more memorable comedies. Instead, Little Fockers delivers more of the same, and even does that poorly. Universal's Blu-ray release is much better, but not enough to justify a blind buy. Its video transfer, though flawed, is the highlight of the release. Its DTS-HD Master Audio track, though bound to the conventions of the genre, does a decent job with what it's given. And its supplemental package, though short and stilted, still has enough content to entertain Focker fiends. I would stick with a rental, but if you can't get your fill of Focker feuding, Universal's Blu-ray release will scratch your itch.
2004
2011
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The Next Cut
2016
Enlarged Edition w/ Extended Cut
2011
2009
Extended Cut
2014
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Unrated + Theatrical
2012
Extended Cut
2014
2016
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2016