Meet the Parents

Aroview: Meeting his girlfriend's parents for the first time becomes nightmare for Ben Stiller, mostly due to Robert De Niro's politely hostile father-in-law-to-be whose conservative WASP mindset refuses to warm to Stiller's 'modern' man.

De Niro's characteristic menace is brilliantly appropriate, rendering the expertly played farce almost terrifying at times, especially once a string of mishaps begins to snowball and Stiller's attempts to make amends simply serve to pour more gasoline on the fire. Teri Polo plays the fiance while Owen Wilson (BOTTLE ROCKET) is hilarious as a high-rolling, eccentric former-boyfriend. Music by Randy Newman.