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Meet the Parents, a review by samuelrichardscott

Meet the Parents (2000) R2 United Kingdom

Overview:
Male nurse Greg Focker ('Ben Stiller') is poised to propose to his girlfriend Pam ('Teri Polo') during a weekend stay at her parents' home. But here's the catch...he needs to ask her father first. Alas, the fur flies as Jack Byrnes, Pam's cat-crazy, ex-CIA father, played hysterically by Academy Award winner Robert DeNiro, takes an immediate dislike to her less-than truthful beau. Greg's quest for approval gets seriously sidetracked as Murphy's Law takes over and a hilarious string of mishaps turns him into a master of disaster and total pariah in the eyes of the entire family... all except for his shell-shocked girlfriend, who can't believe she still loves her one-man wrecking crew.

'Meet the Parents', from the director of 'Austin Powers', is an uproarious blockbuster hit that bombards you with one laugh after another, as true love tries to conquer all, against all odds.

My Thoughts:
Ben Stiller? Great comedic actor. Robert De Niro? Legend. Teri Polo and Blythe Danner? Underrated and underused actresses. Meet the Parents? Enjoyable but overrated comedy from Jay Roach. I like all the cast involved with this movie and it did make me laugh a few times. Unfortunately, it only made me laugh out loud once and that was De Niro's "I have nipples Greg, can you milk me?" line. Don't get me wrong, it's an enjoyable film with plenty of reasonably funny moments but I can't help that with these comedic roles, De Niro has turned into a parody of his former self. I just am not that big a fan of him in this at all. Still, the movie is worth picking up, just don't believe the hype. 3/5

(From Never Ending Movie Marathon (short reviews) on June 21st, 2010)

The Russians Are Coming The Russians Are Coming, a review by Danae Cassandra

The Russians Are Coming The Russians Are Coming
Year of Release: 1966
Directed By: Norman Jewison
Starring: Carl Reiner, Eva Marie Saint, Alan Arkin, Brian Keith
Genre: Comedy

Overview:
When a sightseeing Soviet commander runs his submarine aground off the New England coast, the crew's attempts to find a boat to dislodge them almost start World War III!.  Alan Arkin leads an all-star cast - including Carl Reiner, Eva Marie Saint, Brian Keith and Jonathan Winters - in this "riotous, uproarious [and] side-splitting" (Cue) comedy!

Russian Lt. Rozanov (Arkin) and his crew hit the beaches of Massachusetts unaware of the panic they're about to start.  Despite the Russian's harmless intentions, the folks in town think a full-scale Soviet invasion has been launched!  What's worse, their police chief (Keith) has left his hysterical assistant (Winters) in charge...and the one man who knows the truth (Reiner) is only stirring up more chaos!

My Thoughts:
This is a pretty good piece of Cold War satire, both humourous and serious simulaneously.  It's a funny film - but it's also got its point to make.  I was struck by how news in the film travels like the telepone game you played as a kid.  One person says one thing, another mishears or misconstrues, and suddenly you have a complete panic on your hands.  If the film seems like a farce - exaggerated and improbable - it doesn't seem so to me.  Sadly, the reactions of the locals seems all to likely in real life.  Absurd?  Absolutely.  But not unrealistic.

The performances are good, especially Alan Arkin as Rozanov.  It's also well filmed - you wouldn't know that the Cape Cod style town was constructed in Mendocino, or that the submarine wasn't real unless you were looking for that specifically (the US military refused to loan or allow them to use the one the Russians would have).  It's a bit long, and might not play so well to modern audiences, even though the message is still valid.  I liked it quite a bit though.

Bechdel Test: Pass

Overall: 3.75/5

(From Within My (Mom's) Lifetime Marathon on November 19th, 2015)

Smallville Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

EPISODE 13: SUSPECT
So many suspects, so little time. More than one person had the opportunity and motive to shoot Lionel Luthor, but the prime suspect is Clark's dad.

My Thoughts:
This is the "Who Shot Lionel Luthar?" (Who Shot J.R.?) Episode. I really enjoyed this episode... especially since it has been so long since I seen this episode... I didn't remember it at all! So it was like watching it for the first time again.

EPISODE 14: RUSH
Chloe goes wild. Pete goes bad. Clark goes along with the whole, nonstop party when Pete slips a certain red k ring into his pal's pocket.

My Thoughts:
Another really good episode.I really enjoyed the "hot" Chloe and the daredevil Pete scenes.This is one where Clark is slipped Red Kryptonite and he and Pete tell Chloe the secret... both Pete and Chloe being effected by a parasite... so of course once the parasite was removed Chloe forgets about Clark's secret.

EPISODE 15: PRODIGAL
Lex locates half-brother Lucas in order to get enough votes to oust Lionel from the corporation. Lionel feigns blindness to his advantage. And Lucas may have an agenda entirely his own.

My Thoughts:
This one... to me... is not that great of an episode... it is ok at best. The big thing happening in this episode is the realization that Lionel Luthor is no longer blind.

EPISODE 16: FEVER
Martha is pregnant, but there's no joy when that news comes with the realization that she may be dying of exposure to meteor dust. Lana and Chloe examine their feelings for Clark after he is similarly stricken.

My Thoughts:
This is one of those episodes that even after watching it I don't know just how much  It goes up and down on how much I like it. The meteor dust makes both Martha and Clark sick... I think the scene where Chloe tells the sick Clark her feelings is my favorite... though sad...  scene of the episode.

(From Smallville Marathon on August 2nd, 2007)