Hello, students, educators and visitors. Here you will find both course-specific and general content, posts, links, etc. Feel free to comment on anything. Please sign your comments. Students- please spell-check and proofread.
1. Greg is trying very hard to impress the parents, but finds some way to uninentionally say or do things that don't really impress Jack. This foreshadows the horrible events that come from this later on in the movie. 2. Jack and Greg are foils because Jack makes Greg nervous and uncomfortable, while Greg unknowingly unimpresses Jack. Kevin and Greg are also foils because Kevin is overachieving and the family loves him. He's kind of in the way of Greg and Pam at times. He makes Greg jealous and feel awkward. 3. He departs from these roles because he acts caring and loving toward a cat and sometimes with his family. He also warms up to Greg at the end of the movie. He stays the same because he's a part of the CIA and he still has that intimidating, Italian personality. 4. Greg is not "normal" because he is a male nurse with the name of Gaylord Focker and he's also Jewish. Pam's family judges him for that because they are all catholic and successful. People find male nurses as an odd way to have a occupation. 5. Kevin makes the movie kind of funnier because he makes things more awkward for Greg, even though Greg had already had bad luck with Pam's whole family. Kevin tops off all of the bad things that could happen to Greg. 6. My favorite scene was the one at the end where Jack watches the video of if the cat was really flushing the toilet. It's effective because Jack sees how Greg lied and then talked bad about Jack while they were on bad terms. He was watching the video when they were on good terms so it's funnier that Greg thought that way about Jack before.
Meeting the parents usually consists of the date trying to impress the parents and the parents attempting to judge for themselves whether or not the date is “worthy” of their child. This movie exaggerates the conflicts and characterizations between these two parties, eventually consuming the both of them and overbears the relationship between Greg and Pam. Jack and Diana are foils. Jack is a strict, controlling, intimidating, and dominating figure in his CIA ways such as having a rigidly structured schedule and leaving no room for fault while Diana is a warm, accepting, and easy-to-know character who is slow to anger, having to take the culmination of Greg’s mistakes to simply be “disappointed”. Greg and Kevin are also foils; Greg is an eccentric character who is eager to impress and somewhat awkward when put in foreign social situations while Kevin is a suave, intelligent, worldly, and “cool” character which Greg attempts to emulate and surpass. Robert maintains the hardened and overbearing persona under the context of an innocent and contrasting setting to his character which serves to magnify the “parent from hell” scenario. The film usually presents several conflicting cultural and social expectations and awkwardly resolve or heighten them. Kev’s character adds to the awkwardness for Greg. He also is a source of competition for Greg, both in the way of his seemingly flawless character and in the way of Jack’s approval which Greg longs for. My favorite scene from the film is when Greg is taken from the airplane after having a meltdown and being interrogated by Jack. This scene incorporates irony, seen when Greg turns the interview roles around and becomes the interrogator. Also, Jack’s acceptance and meekness in his realization of the depths of Greg’s love for his daughter serves to resolve the conflict between them. The switching of roles and the literal interpretation of “marrying the family” as well as the wife where Jack proposes to Greg achieves a comic effect as well.
Meeting the parents usually consists of the date trying to impress the parents and the parents attempting to judge for themselves whether or not the date is “worthy” of their child. This movie exaggerates the conflicts and characterizations between these two parties, eventually consuming the both of them and overbears the relationship between Greg and Pam. Jack and Diana are foils. Jack is a strict, controlling, intimidating, and dominating figure in his CIA ways such as having a rigidly structured schedule and leaving no room for fault while Diana is a warm, accepting, and easy-to-know character who is slow to anger, having to take the culmination of Greg’s mistakes to simply be “disappointed”. Greg and Kevin are also foils; Greg is an eccentric character who is eager to impress and somewhat awkward when put in foreign social situations while Kevin is a suave, intelligent, worldly, and “cool” character which Greg attempts to emulate and surpass. Robert maintains the hardened and overbearing persona under the context of an innocent and contrasting setting to his character which serves to magnify the “parent from hell” scenario. The film usually presents several conflicting cultural and social expectations and awkwardly resolve or heighten them. Kev’s character adds to the awkwardness for Greg. He also is a source of competition for Greg, both in the way of his seemingly flawless character and in the way of Jack’s approval which Greg longs for. My favorite scene from the film is when Greg is taken from the airplane after having a meltdown and being interrogated by Jack. This scene incorporates irony, seen when Greg turns the interview roles around and becomes the interrogator. Also, Jack’s acceptance and meekness in his realization of the depths of Greg’s love for his daughter serves to resolve the conflict between them. The switching of roles and the literal interpretation of “marrying the family” as well as the wife where Jack proposes to Greg achieves a comic effect as well.
1. The plot of an insecure daughter’s boyfriend and a very controlling and manipulating dad is a very neat basic concept for a comedy like this. Jack somehow manages to put Greg in embarrassing situations all the time. To save himself greg makes up a net of lies that soon leads to serious disasters and finally almost ruins Pams sister's wedding.
2. Greg and Kevin make a huge foil. The fact that Jack likes Kevin a lot more than Greg makes it hard for Jack to make a positive impression. While Kevin is rich guy who sees to live carefree and over the top, Greg works as a nurse and is way more down to earth. Greg seems to be a foil to everyone in the Byrnes family, but specially Jack. Jack has total control over Greg’s actions, who is scared and awed by him. With his very dominant character, Jack quashed Grg ,who is a kindan very influenceable man.
3. In his role as an overprotective dad who worked as an CIA operator, Robert De Niro has to show the perfect mix of characters he is famous for playing. He mixes his skills together and uses them in a really mean way in order to scare Pam’s boyfriends away. He acts like a psychotic control freak and everybody except Greg knows what's going on.
4. Obviously Greg grew up in a different environment than Pam. Being the only one with this different(not even worse or something,just different) childhood in a group of people who experienced their past together, he stands alone and has to adapt quickly to a routine ihe is not familiar with.
5. Kevin makes Greg’s problem with getting pam’s dad to like him even harder. If you compare kevin and Greg, Kevin looks a lot better, has more money and to Jack he definitely has the better Character while Greg Only is the word nurse who lies and wants his daughter. So there is a weird competition thg going on between those two, but only from Grefs site since Kevin doesn’t even seem to realize Greg’s struggle with the entire Situation.
6. My favourite scene in the movie is when Greg offends the stewardess in the plane when he tries to fly back after all the lies were exposed. He is asked to check in his suitcase, but since the airline had lost it before, he refuses to give it away. He is really stressed out so this woman asking him t give her his luggage is just too much and he totally breaks down, complaining and even calling her a bad word. The scene is very funny because after everything that happened, people think that the bad things are over and than he is not left alone and actually gets thrown off the plane.
Ali Hannon 1. When meeting your partner’s parents, you will always want to give a good first impression. In some cases, you need to make sure that you appear good enough for your partner in their parent’s perspectives. A good example of this is Greg’s case in “Meet the Parents” because he has to impress a retired CIA agent, Jack, who just so happens to treasure his daughter. 2. One pair of foils is Greg and Jack. Greg seems to be a jokester who is just striving for acceptance from Pam’s family. He clearly loves Pam, and is quick to accept her family in hopes of being accepted himself. Jack, in contrast, is intimidating and mysterious because of his CIA background. He loves and cares for his family, but is very protective of all of them. Unlike Greg, he does not trust and accept people easily. Kevin and Greg seem to be polar opposites despite the fact that Pam dated them both. Kevin is very good at a lot of things and is very religious. He is very nice and accepting, and didn’t question Greg once. Greg, as stated above, is a jokester who doesn’t immediately accept Kevin because of his interest in Pam and how much he seems to impress her. Greg is an incredibly good male nurse and seems to only be good at that, where as Kevin can ‘widdle’ an alter out of one block of wood and do anything else amazingly. 3. Robert DeNiro’s portrayal is very different but also very similar to the gangsters that he is used to playing. His CIA background creates the similarities, as well as the scenes of him taking secret phone calls and having a secret room. The scenes of him expressing his love for his cat, and performing his handshake with Pam, create the contrast. 4. Greg is a middle class Jew, who would prefer to be a male nurse than a doctor. He is surrounded by money on all sides from his Jack and his wife, from Dina’s in laws and from Kevin. All three of these groups are Catholics and they all seem to have a lot of money from their high paying and gender specific jobs. 5. Kevin is a confident Christian who, right down to his appearance, is the complete opposite of Greg. He is completely accepted by Jack, his wife and everybody else in the movie. Everybody loves him and are always impressed by everything that he can do. The pictures of him and Pam going sky diving and such illustrate how well rounded he is compared to Greg who had not been accepted by anyone at the time.
1. There is an inherent awkwardness behind the idea of meeting the parents of one's significant other. There is always the matter of proving that you are good enough for their child, trying to get them to like you, and living up to their expectations. No matter what, it always seems when there is the matter of "meeting the parents", the significant other is never good enough at first. They always have to build trust, suck up to the parents, and try being nice and generous to everyone. More than anything else, it is awkward to be in someone elses home or hometown, where you are completely unfamiliar with your surroundings, and trying to win over the parents. You are not on your home turf and it makes it awkward just being the unfamiliar place. The scenario itself serves a platform to drive the plot forward by showing how Gaylord (aka Greg) is trying to prove himself and win over the parents. As Gaylord tries to win over the parents, he makes mistake after mistake and causes accident after accident to cause the parents to dislike him even more. The parents everntually get to the point where they are disgusted with him and they kick him out of their home. Which of course was justified due to Gaylord causing a fire, ruining the wedding dress, causing multiple accidents and losing Jack's cat. 2. Two character that really bring out qualities in eachother are Jack and Gaylord. Jack brings out Gaylords betters and worst qualities such as his generosity, awkwardness, and his willingness to please. Gaylord brings out Jack's overall badside with qualities such as anger, paranoia, ridiculous expectations and his overprotective personality. This case is caused by Gaylords efforts to please Jack by gaining his trust, living up to his expectations and trying to ask his permission to marry Pam. Another pair of characters that bring out different qualities in eachother are Gaylord and Pam. Gaylord brings out Pam's overall happiness and her nice side. Pam brings out Gaylords non-awkward side, good personality, outgoing characteristics and his willingness to please. Gaylord and Pam bring out all of the good qualities in eachother which is typical of character in their situation. 3. 4. 5. Pam's ex adds a bit to the framework of plot and chacter dynamics. Kevin instantly becomes a threat in Gaylord's eyes because he is rich, outgoing, and seems to be the overall perfect guy for her. Kevin basically serves as another person to compare Gaylord to. Kevin seems to be absolutely perfect while Gaylord is flawed. In the eyes of Jack, Kevin was perfect and Gaylord is the complete wrong fit for Pam. Kevin's qualities lead Gaylord to question himself and if he is right for Pam. It also leads him to think that Pam still loves Kevin and that there could still be something between them. The character of Kevin leads to multiple conflicts with Gaylord in his attempts to win over Jack's trust and to get his permission to ask for Pam's hand in marriage. 6.
1. At some point while dating someone there is a point where the person has to meet their parents. When someone is meeting the parents they try their hardest to impress the parents. They do this to prove that they are indeed "good enough" for their child. Usually when doing this they make a fool of themselves and make themselves look bad. This is a good platform because people can make themselves look really bad while trying hard and can bed very comical. 2. One couple thats a foil is Jack and Dina. Jack is this very masculine,tough guy that is very hard to get to know. Dina is a light-hearted, kind individual who is easy to get to know and doesn't pass judgement easily. Another pair is Greg and Pam because Greg is a quorky, tempered, jealous man. Pam is easy going, down to earth and doesn't question a persons honesty or loyalty. 3. Robert Deniro's Jack is an amalgam of many of the roles he has played in the past because Jacks a complex character. He is a tough guy that is supposed to play by the rules but doesn't. He has a hard core edge to him and isn't afraid to put up a fight. On the other hand it is different because he is apart of the law and is not a bad guy this time. 4. From the beginning Greg was seen as an outsider. He comes from the background of a different religion; Jewish. He was brought up in an easy going family who did not care about acheivement but happiness. The Burns family cares about achievement and is a very strict family due to Jack being in the C.I.A. From the start Greg had to try his hardest to fit in due to the very different backgrounds of the families. 5. Kevin adds to the plot a lot by being Pam's ex boyfriend. Through everyones eyes but Pam's he is the perfect speciman. He is the best match for her and everyone sees it. This drives Greg crazy because he feels that he needs to compete with Kevin for Pam's love. It adds to the comedey because they are in a competition and the lengths they go to impress people adds to the comedic effect.
1. The concept of "meeting the parents" is inherently awkward and serves as a platform for the plot. This is because personal questions are asked, and the parent's approval is decided by the answers and actions of the potential son or daughter-in-law. There is a lot of pressure and it's always going to have uncomfortable moments.
2. Greg and Kevin serve as foils to each other. While Kevin is crafty, rich, and successful, Greg is clumsy and his occupation is mocked by Pam's family. Jack also serves as a foil to Greg, as he is honest and a hardass, unlike the fumbling, fibbing goon that his daughter brings home.
3. Robert De Niro's rolls as serious boxers, gangsters, etc. were incorporated into his character Jack. He is patronizing, sometimes serious, and sometimes an outright jerk. Basically he's a hardass. But he also departs from this persona to be comical and silly.
4. Socio-cultural juxtapositions are included and explored in this movie. For example, while male members of the family are involved in the medical field in the form of doctors and surgeons, Greg is a male nurse. He recieves a lot of ridicule for this, as nursing is typically a female-dominated field. Also, Greg is the only Jewish member of the family, which is emphasised in a condesending way by Pam's family.
5. Kevin's ex adds an important dynamic to the family, as he is adored by Pam's family, despite the fact that they broke off their engagement. His precense, and the perfection that comes with it, emphasis Kevin's imperfections. Meeting a partner's ex is inherently awkward, so it is a great addition to the inherently awkward meeting of the parents.
6. One great scene from Meet the Parents is the one involving volleyball match. The energy and intensity is ridiculous, considering it's just a family pool game. It's pretty great when Greg hits Pam's sister in the face with a volleyball, because of the hyperbolic extent of the injuries-a ball hitting her in the face made about 2 liters of blood pour from her nose, plus gave her a nice shiner right before her wedding.
1. “Meeting the parents” is naturally awkward in the desire to please the family and seem worthy of one’s significant other. It is always uncomfortable to meet people that one’s love interest has relationships with, whether is be family, friends, coworkers or exes, because one wants to impress both their significant other in their interaction and treatment of that person, and likewise, it is important to make a good impression on the other person. These dynamics serve to effectively establish humor in the plot. The characterization of Jack, Pam’s father, and of Greg ascertain more friction and overall uncomfortability which aids in the plot development as well as the comedy of the film. 2. Where Gaylord “Greg” Focker is a warm-hearted, eager to impress male nurse, he effectively foils the character Jack, a hard-to-please retired CIA agent. Although both Greg and Jack value family greatly, they differ in their approaches to such; Jack sees his daughter’s cat, Mr. Jinx, as a son—he even teaches him human abilities, such as using the toilet and bearing wedding rings. On the contrary, Greg is “more of a dog person” and actually “hates cats”, much to Jack’s disdain. Pam’s current boyfriend, Greg, is somewhat lackluster when compared to her ex-beau, Kevin. Kevin is a wealthy investor, who is sporty, multi-talented, and the object of her father’s approval. On the other hand, Greg is a male nurse who rents, rather than owning a home like Kevin does, and is desperately seeking Jack’s approval and Pam’s hand in marriage. Kevin, who never fails to impress, overshadows Greg and his mediocrity. 3. In “Meet the Parents”, Robert DeNiro departs from his usual hard-ass roles in adopting a more family-oriented character, with a soft-spot for his pet cat. Although the role seems unexpected for DeNiro, Jack Byrnes remains threatening and hard to please. Ever the intimidating man, it is not unusual for him to play a character who was a former CIA agent. 4. The film incorporates taboos and socio-cultural juxtaposition in the employment of a character who works as a male nurse, and the integration of one Jewish character into a religious Christian family. 5. Kevin’s character works as a foil against Greg, and contributes to the character dynamics of the film. Greg is jealous of the handsome, successful Kevin because Jack is very approving of him, and Pam is still friendly with him. Although Kevin plays a supporting role, it is a major part of the family relations.
1. The concept of "meeting the parents" is inherently awkward and serves as a platform for the plot. This is because personal questions are asked, and the parent's approval is decided by the answers and actions of the potential son or daughter-in-law. There is a lot of pressure and it's always going to have uncomfortable moments.
2. Greg and Kevin serve as foils to each other. While Kevin is crafty, rich, and successful, Greg is clumsy and his occupation is mocked by Pam's family. Jack also serves as a foil to Greg, as he is honest and a hardass, unlike the fumbling, fibbing goon that his daughter brings home.
3. Robert De Niro's rolls as serious boxers, gangsters, etc. were incorporated into his character Jack. He is patronizing, sometimes serious, and sometimes an outright jerk. Basically he's a hardass. But he also departs from this persona to be comical and silly.
4. Socio-cultural juxtapositions are included and explored in this movie. For example, while male members of the family are involved in the medical field in the form of doctors and surgeons, Greg is a male nurse. He recieves a lot of ridicule for this, as nursing is typically a female-dominated field. Also, Greg is the only Jewish member of the family, which is emphasised in a condesending way by Pam's family.
5. Kevin's ex adds an important dynamic to the family, as he is adored by Pam's family, despite the fact that they broke off their engagement. His precense, and the perfection that comes with it, emphasis Kevin's imperfections. Meeting a partner's ex is inherently awkward, so it is a great addition to the inherently awkward meeting of the parents.
6. One great scene from Meet the Parents is the one involving volleyball match. The energy and intensity is ridiculous, considering it's just a family pool game. It's pretty great when Greg hits Pam's sister in the face with a volleyball, because of the hyperbolic extent of the injuries-a ball hitting her in the face made about 2 liters of blood pour from her nose, plus gave her a nice shiner right before her wedding.
Meet The Parents Questions 1. In general, most of the time meeting the parents is an awkward time to begin with, but because in this movie the awkwardness between Greg and Jack, keeps getting intensified thus serving as a way to drive the plot forward. While continuously Greg does everything he can do to impress Jack, he continuously just keeps going farther down Jack’s list of people he approves of and likes. 2. One of the main foils in the movie is Greg and Jack. While both of them love Pam dearly, neither of the two can find reasons to like the other. Jack was part of the CIA, while Greg is a male nurse, which are total opposites of the time period and something many find funny, because only woman are supposed to be nurses at the time. Another pair of foils would be Greg and Kevin. Greg and Kevin are complete opposites. Kevin is a handy man who just so happens to have the approval of Jack for the whole movie, while Greg is the farthest thing from a handy man and fights for Jack’s approval consistently. Kevin is filthy rich, semi full of himself, while Greg is just a normal guy, where nothing is really particularly great of him. While both are have complete opposite religions, with Greg being a Jew and Kevin being a Christian. Thus, appearing to be foils of each other to the viewer. 3. Robert DeNiro appears to continue in acting a similar role to boxers, gangsters, and psychopathic taxi drivers, in the aspect of him being a previous CIA agent and his crazy driving skills near the end of the movie. Jack, played by Robert DeNiro, acts as a tough and controlling guy whose mannerisms are quite similar to those of a gangster. With his meeting in the parking lot, it appeared to be a very secretive meeting much like a gangster would in fact have. 4. A socio-cultural juxtaposition is incorporated and explored in the film with the aspect of both Greg and Kevin. Greg is a middle classed Jew while being a male nurse, which is nothing close to the rest of the characters in the movie. While the other characters are all of Christian descent, and they are higher up on the economic scale and do not necessarily believe in male nurses. 5. Kevin, Pam’s ex, adds to the frameworks of plot and character dynamics by causing more issues and drama surrounding Greg and getting to know the family and getting the approval by Jack. He continuously brings out the worst in Greg and causes him to continuously make an awful impression towards Jack and keeps him on edge throughout the movie.
1. There is an inherent awkwardness behind the idea of meeting the parents of one's significant other. There is always the matter of proving that you are good enough for their child, trying to get them to like you, and living up to their expectations. No matter what, it always seems when there is the matter of "meeting the parents", the significant other is never good enough at first. They always have to build trust, suck up to the parents, and try being nice and generous to everyone. More than anything else, it is awkward to be in someone else’s home or hometown, where you are completely unfamiliar with your surroundings, and trying to win over the parents. You are not on your home turf and it makes it awkward just being the unfamiliar place. The scenario itself serves a platform to drive the plot forward by showing how Gaylord (aka Greg) is trying to prove himself and win over the parents. As Gaylord tries to win over the parents, he makes mistake after mistake and causes accident after accident to cause the parents to dislike him even more. The parents eventually get to the point where they are disgusted with him and they kick him out of their home. Which of course was justified due to Gaylord causing a fire, ruining the wedding dress, causing multiple accidents and losing Jack's cat. 2. Two character that really bring out qualities in eachother are Jack and Gaylord. Jack brings out Gaylords betters and worst qualities such as his generosity, awkwardness, and his willingness to please. Gaylord brings out Jack's overall badside with qualities such as anger, paranoia, ridiculous expectations and his overprotective personality. This case is caused by Gaylords efforts to please Jack by gaining his trust, living up to his expectations and trying to ask his permission to marry Pam. Another pair of characters that bring out different qualities in eachother are Gaylord and Pam. Gaylord brings out Pam's overall happiness and her nice side. Pam brings out Gaylords non-awkward side, good personality, outgoing characteristics and his willingness to please. Gaylord and Pam bring out all of the good qualities in eachother which is typical of character in their situation. 3. Robert Deniro’s character in Meet The Parents is both similar and different to many of his other roles in movies. In many of Deniro’s movies, he typically plays the tough-guy mobster/mob boss, psychopath or an overall scary guy. The character Jack in Meet The Parents is in no way similar to Deniro’s other characters such as Casey from Cape Fear or his character in Taxi Driver. Jack is a family man who wants nothing more than to make his loved ones happy. This is a total departure from all of his other roles. Deniro never plays a character that is funny, happy, loving or caring. Also, Deniro never does comedy in general. He is always in action, suspense, thriller, and crime movies. The only real thing that makes Jack similar to Deniro’s other characters is that the character is a retired CIA agent. This lets his character be very intelligent, observant, tough, secretive and intimidating, much like Deniro’s other characters.
4. The film explores the idea of “meeting the parents” by showing the first-hand experiences of a man who is trying to ask permission to marry his girlfriend. It basically explores the worst situations that could occur while in the process of gaining the approval of the parents and their permission to have their daughter married.
5. Pam's ex adds a bit to the framework of plot and character dynamics. Kevin instantly becomes a threat in Gaylord's eyes because he is rich, outgoing, and seems to be the overall perfect guy for her. Kevin basically serves as another person to compare Gaylord to. Kevin seems to be absolutely perfect while Gaylord is flawed. In the eyes of Jack, Kevin was perfect and Gaylord is the complete wrong fit for Pam. Kevin's qualities lead Gaylord to question himself and if he is right for Pam. It also leads him to think that Pam still loves Kevin and that there could still be something between them. The character of Kevin leads to multiple conflicts with Gaylord in his attempts to win over Jack's trust and to get his permission to ask for Pam's hand in marriage.
6. My favorite scene from the movie is when Ben Stiller’s character is sitting at dinner with Pam and her parents when they ask him to say grace even though is Jewish. Stiller’s character Gaylord starts to say grace and he has no idea what he is doing when he is saying it. He starts to say how god is a gentle god, that he is great, that they would like to see him more clearly, follow him more nearly and love him more dearly. During this scene, Gaylord breaks the urn that is holding the ashes of Jack’s mother. During the scene, Jack reads a poem his wrote that is full of information about how his mother died and at one specific part where an “unstoppable rebel force” is mentioned. The comic effect in this scene is achieved through irony, cluelessness in the situation, absurdity, blunder and realism. The realism of the situation causes a comic effect because it seems like something that could actually happen at the dinner table. Where one person may not of the catholic faith and tries to say grace based on the stereotypical graces scene/heard on television. The blunder of Gaylord’s “grace” is comical in itself because he says things in the grace that are never heard when speaking it. He says phrases and lines that could almost be in an attempt to be poetic in order to please the parents of Pam.
Amelia M. Meet the Parents 1. Greg feels somewhat comfortable before going into meeting Pam’s parents in the movie “Meet the Parents”, but when he actually meets them in person, he is awkward because he’s never met them before and really doesn’t know how to act around them. The movie exaggerates the meeting of one’s significant other’s parents by showing the awkwardness of the meeting, but it’s really not that uncomfortable in real life because the parents are very excited to meet the newest potential member of their family. In real life, the parents usually like the newest member of the family; they don’t go out of their way to make the new person feel awkward and uncomfortable. 2. The first important pair of foils in this movie is Greg and Jack. Jack seems like he has it more together and seems more accomplished than Greg. Jack doesn’t like that Greg is a male nurse because he doesn’t think that it’s a manly profession and he keeps asking Greg why he doesn’t go out for a higher profession like a doctor. Greg is the complete opposite of Jack because Jack is very strict, while he himself is much more laid back and easygoing, not really caring about the fact that he’s a male nurse. Another pair of foils is Greg and Pam’s ex, Kevin; there are some very different qualities between the two of them, which makes the relationship between Greg and Jack awkward. Jack seems very fond and close with Kevin, and he really seems to like him much more than Greg because of his accomplishments. Greg isn’t as wealthy or high up as Kevin, which makes him more liked than Greg by everyone else in the family. 3. I’ve never seen another movie with Robert DeNiro, but I can see that his character of Jack mixes a bunch of different personalities together. He seems like he is tough and strict like a gangster and isn’t a push over like most fathers. When he is driving home from the restaurant to beat Greg to catch him about the cat, he is driving like a maniac, like a crazy taxi driver would. His character of Jack is somewhat like these characters, but it’s mostly its own character and personality. Jack has his own qualities that make him separate from the other characters that DeNiro has played in past movies. 4. This movie incorporates a socio-cultural juxtaposition by showing the differences between Greg and some of the other characters. Greg is a male nurse and Jack, along with Debbie’s husband and father-in-law seem to not have any respect for him because of it. Kevin is better than Greg in a bunch of different ways and the movie compares the two in both career and religion. Jack obviously likes and respects Kevin much more because of the choices he has made in life. Greg is of different religion than the other characters; which makes him the odd man out while both saying grace and asking about Kevin’s chapel. Greg is an important character because he helps highlight the bad qualities of the other characters. 5. Kevin is also a somewhat important character for a few reasons. He is obviously the favorite of Jack because of all of his choices and accomplishments and Jack respects him much more than Greg. Kevin has good relationships with the family, even though he isn’t getting married to Pam anymore. He adds the assistance to highlight Greg’s good qualities and to show why exactly Pam chose him over Kevin. I personally didn’t like Kevin because he seems like he’s better than Greg, even though Greg was chosen by Pam. 6. My favorite scene of the movie was at the dinner table when Greg was trying to say grace the correct way. Comedy and satire were used because it was making fun of his inability to say grace because of his religion. Foil character was used as well because Jack could have easily said grace better than Greg because he is more experienced. Juxtaposition was used as well when Greg was saying grace because it showed how he was different in religion from the rest of the characters.
1. It is very awkward when Greg first meets Pam’s parents. He is trying so hard to impress them that he just makes mistakes, rather than acting normal. Sarcasm between Greg and Jack cause an extreme awkwardness also. The idea of meeting parents is just awkward as it is, and Greg and Jack’s relationship makes it even worse. 2. Greg and Jack are foils. Jack is very literal and Greg is very sarcastic, causing conflict between the two. Jack acts like the perfect human, being very strict while Greg seems more fun and such. Greg and Kevin are also foils. They are compared in the relationship with Pam. Also, they are two completely different people that really bring out each other’s differences. 3. DeNiro’s Jack is an amalgam of all of these roles and personas because he plays a psychotic father who has a tough attitude and is very strict with his business, as boxers and gangsters would be. It is a departure from these roles because these roles do not bring out the sensitive side of a father’s perspective. 4. The film incorporates socio-cultural juxtaposition in a few ways. One major way is that Greg is an outsider when placed in a position with a family of people who have already met, and he hasn’t met any of them yet. Also, Greg is placed in an environment of all medical figures such as doctors who are very high up in the medical world. Greg is just a nurse, so the other people exile him and pick on him. 5. Kevin brings jealousy to Greg. He also brings someone to compare Greg to and to criticize him. He also shows that although Pam could be with someone who seems to be the perfect guy she still would rather be with Greg because she loves him. It really shows the extent of the relationship that Pam and Greg have. 6. My favorite scene of the film is when Greg loses the cat and sets the backyard on fire. This is my favorite scene because it is the point where Greg really screws up big-time and everything falls together on him. He loses the beloved cat, he sets the yard on fire, sets the alter on fire, and also exposes his “weakness” of smoking. Comic effect is caused by tragedy and slapstick.
1. It is very awkward when Greg first meets Pam’s parents. He is trying so hard to impress them that he just makes mistakes, rather than acting normal. Sarcasm between Greg and Jack cause an extreme awkwardness also. The idea of meeting parents is just awkward as it is, and Greg and Jack’s relationship makes it even worse. 2. Greg and Jack are foils. Jack is very literal and Greg is very sarcastic, causing conflict between the two. Jack acts like the perfect human, being very strict while Greg seems more fun and such. Greg and Kevin are also foils. They are compared in the relationship with Pam. Also, they are two completely different people that really bring out each other’s differences. 3. DeNiro’s Jack is an amalgam of all of these roles and personas because he plays a psychotic father who has a tough attitude and is very strict with his business, as boxers and gangsters would be. It is a departure from these roles because these roles do not bring out the sensitive side of a father’s perspective. 4. The film incorporates socio-cultural juxtaposition in a few ways. One major way is that Greg is an outsider when placed in a position with a family of people who have already met, and he hasn’t met any of them yet. Also, Greg is placed in an environment of all medical figures such as doctors who are very high up in the medical world. Greg is just a nurse, so the other people exile him and pick on him. 5. Kevin brings jealousy to Greg. He also brings someone to compare Greg to and to criticize him. He also shows that although Pam could be with someone who seems to be the perfect guy she still would rather be with Greg because she loves him. It really shows the extent of the relationship that Pam and Greg have. 6. My favorite scene of the film is when Greg loses the cat and sets the backyard on fire. This is my favorite scene because it is the point where Greg really screws up big-time and everything falls together on him. He loses the beloved cat, he sets the yard on fire, sets the alter on fire, and also exposes his “weakness” of smoking. Comic effect is caused by tragedy and slapstick.
6. My favorite scene in the film is when Greg flips out on the stewardess. Everything up until then he bottled up and kept it inside. Characterization was used because of how they depicted Greg. At some point in time he was going to explode and she just pushed him over the limit. He hit his breaking point. It was great because normally in this type of situstion someone would not get so angry but in his case he did. Irony was used because of all people I thought he was going to flip out on Jack but instead it was the stewardess. Also he ended up fighting over his luggage which is what started the craziness in the beginning of the movie. Another thing that happened was a simile and thats because he was saying its not like I have a bomb in my bag and everyone took it the wrong way. Thats really when mayhem started.
6. The scene at the airport achieves a comedic effect through the combined use of irony, hyperbole, anecdote, characterization, and closure. When Greg turns the tables on Jack with the "human lie detector", an ironic humor is introduced. In the airplane, Greg relates an anecdote of his recent experience with checking bags in protest to the flight attendent. The dramatic characterization of the stewardess as well as Gred and Jack is useful in creating a comic effect and in establishing closure between the two men.
1. Meeting the parents for any relationship for a guy can be stressful and awkward. So the movie took these awkward scenarios and made them the worst possible outcome to these scenarios. Also the conflict between Jack and Greg portrays a more intense struggle to gain approval which could provide more comical confrontations. 2.Greg and Jack are the most obvious foils since they are the main characters. Greg has a sarcastic tone and attitude while Jack is a more serious fellow that takes literal meanings for everything. For example the puff dragon was an interesting scenario. Also Greg and Kevin are also foils since their relationship with Pam is compared. Kevins was more physical and sexual which Greg has an emotion and loving relationship with Pam. 3.Robert DeNiro is good at playing hardass characters that are rock solid on the inside and out, and having a father who is part of the CIA was a perfect role for him. However by the end of the movie Jack ends up softening up to Greg because he realizes that Pam loves Greg. 4.The doctors in the movie are separating themselves from the nurse genre because they feel that they are higher up in the social class. Greg comes into this family that has already met each other and grown comfortable with each other so he is out of the loop. 5.Kevin is just another abnormal character that is to prove that Greg is fact a normal character but stands out of this environment of peculiar characters. 6. The scene where Greg walks into Jacks secret den and Jack walks in on him. The whole confrontation is seriously awkward since Greg thinks he has been caught creeping. This scene is also a big part because it sets up the suspicion in Greg’s mind and unfolds the last straw to his meet the parents episode. Certain literary devices in this scene include deadpan, trans-embarrassment for Greg, a farce, foil, and inflation.
“Meet the Parents” Samuel Carignan 1. “Meet the Parents” contains inherently awkward dynamics which are caused by the situations that are set Greg has to face. These scenarios help to drive the plot forward and also add humor to the movie. One example is when Greg meets Kevin, this was humorous because Greg was trying to best Kevin for Pam’s attention but it also furthered the plot by adding a new dynamic to the plot. 2. Within the film there are two foils, Greg and Kevin and Greg and Jack. Greg and Kevin, Pam’s ex boyfriend, are almost complete opposites. Greg is very loving, but is unskillful and not very rich where as Kevin is very skillful, rich but not as loving as Greg. Jack is also a foil to Greg, but they do have a similarity; they both love Pam very much. Jack is always a serious, determined and protective of his daughter. This can be very awkward for both of them because their differences always lead to a major conflict. 3. Robert DeNiro is famous for playing very serious roles, and in some ways he still was and in others was not in “Meet the Parents”. Jack is in the CIA, drives like a maniac and is very threatening towards Greg. This side of him is what helps to reveal the compassionate side of him. He owns a cat and taught is tricks, writes poems about his dead mother and is extremely loving and protective of his daughters. 4. Greg is juxtaposed within the film by the characters that he always interacts with. It especially is juxtaposed when the film explores a socio-cultural theme. He and Pam love each other despite all of their opposites of religion, views on pets, family and occupations. When it comes to himself and Jack, a whole new experience is created. The major difference between them is that Jack is a CIA agent and Jack is a civilian, which is the cause of many of their fights, especially over Pam. With these three characters, the film demonstrated how social issues between people can define a culture in just a few minutes. 5. Kevin, Pam’s ex-boyfriend, adds to the entire plot and character dynamics of the film. Without Kevin, Greg would only have to win over the affection of Pam’s father, not Pam herself as well. Kevin also contributes to the humor and foil of Greg, because they are opposites, the two of them interacting becomes quite humorous to the audience in their “mad dash” for Pam’s love. Also the addition of another strange character adds to the overall comedic affect of the movie in order to make it a “film to last throughout the ages”. 6. My favorite scene from the movie is when the group returns from the restaurant to find the house in disarray. This seems to be the climax of the film at the moment because all of the previous events have led up to this. Also, Jack uses the persuasive form of ethos to try to scare Greg because he “knows his daughter best”. Greg, on the other hand, uses logos by saying that the odds of him being bad are slim to none. The humor in this scene is that the cat destroying all of the wedding items was already foreshadowed by Greg when he tried to trick Jack and everyone else. The final key part that makes the scene are the foils that finally become as large as they can be. Up until now all of the people who dislike Greg have been quiet about it but now they are yelling it in front of his face. It is a very sad scene, but most people cannot help but laugh at the scene and the people in it.
6. The Meet the Parents scene with Greg at the airport after his fight with Pam and her family, was quite comical. At this point, the entire scene characterizes Greg in a more descriptive way than what was seen throughout the rest of the movie. He starts screaming at the stewardess when she tries to take his bag from him, because the airline did already lose his bag the first time. He just wanted it there where he could see it and know it would get where it was supposed to be. Then he gets carried off the plane by saying “it’s not like I have a bomb inside”, which he specifically said he did not have a bomb, but because he said the word bomb, he obviously got in trouble. Coincidently, by him getting kicked off the plane helped him get back to Pam, because Jack talked to him and got to bring him back with him and the two made up and got on better terms with each other.
1 The scenario of meeting the parents is always an awkward situation for all involved parties. Greg, the hopeful husband, exaggerates and exposes the awkward situation of attempting to qualify as a fitting partner for the father’s daughter Pam. Jack, the father, is trying to see if Greg sizes up to his requirements. The movie Meet the Parents exposes this awkward situation and use that to drive the plot of this film forward. 2 Kevin Vs. Greg. Kevin is a successful, wealthy man. He is a very talented craftsman and stock broker. He seems like the perfect man and is admired by the father, Jack. Greg is just an average guy. He has many funny qualities that are used by the other characters to put him down and seem unsuccessful and inferior. He is a male nurse and his birth name is Gaylord Focker. Kevin Vs. Jack. These characters are pitted against each other to expose and exaggerate how both of these men are extreme in very opposite ways. Jack is a successful man who is looking for the perfect man for his daughter. Greg almost seems as if he doesn’t qualify because of his occupation and his basic traits. He is too average to meets Jack’s extreme standards. 3 Robert DeNiro is most noted for his tough guy roles in other movies. Having him be the father in Meet the Parents is an interesting situation. Toward his family he is loving and caring. Having him play a role where at some points he is a loving caring man is a complete departure from his roles in other movies. Towards Greg he is still a tough guy though. It is fitting to his other roles because of the way he treats him. He is also a CIA agent and interrogates all of his daughter’s boyfriends. 4 In the film meet the Parents, at many points they incorporate and explore a socio-cultural juxtaposition. In the film they combine and compare different social classes. Everyone in the Byrnes and Banks families is successful and wealthy. They display many of the stereotypical snobby rich people characteristics. Greg is an average man. He is a male nurse and is made fun of by everyone else because they are successful doctors, or in other prestigious careers. Greg is also Jewish where as everyone else fits the white catholic mold. 5 Kevin, Pam’s ex, adds to the overall plot of the story as well as expose hidden character dynamics. The main reason for his presence is so he can be a person to compare with Greg and to create tension. He is successful and a very talented craftsman. He is personal friends with Jack, though he isn’t dating Jack’s daughter anymore. Jack sees him as the perfect guy and noticeably is always comparing him to Greg. It is awkward between Greg and Kevin because of how they both loved the same person. The awkward situation of running into a loved one’s ex when you are now in their place has been exaggerated and exposed in the film Meet the Parents. 6 The scene I liked the most in the film was the scene where Greg lets the cat out and has to chase go up onto the roof and try to catch it. When atop the roof he lights a cigarette and lights some of the house, the alter, as well as some of the yard on fire. This scene is the extreme example of how ridiculously bad Greg’s luck is throughout the entire movie. It is an example of how irony is used throughout the movie. He is simply trying to fetch the cat but instead of bringing the cat back he lights fire to their property. The fact that it also ruins Kevin’s alter is ironic considering Kevin’s former relationship with Greg’s girlfriend. This scene also utilizes absurdity. In reality it would be quite tough to light as dramatic and destructive of a fire in that short amount of time. This film utilizes social stereotypes. The stereotypes are more per social class. The family is wealthy and successful in all their careers. They look down upon Greg, who is an average man, because of his career as a nurse.
1.) There are many aspects of “Meeting the Parents” that can be awkward, besides meeting the parents of your significant other for the first time can be nerve racking, especially when you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into. When Pam takes Greg home to meet her parents for the first time, Greg feels intimidated by Pam’s father, who he finds out is a CIA retiree. One specific occurrence that made Greg feel even more awkward was when the family cat is treated like a member of the family and is trained in various tricks, which Greg cannot understand. The whole family dynamic is based on the fact that the father figure, played by Robert De Niro, and the intimidation factor that he withholds.
2.) One pair character foils is between Greg and Pam’s father, Jack. Without the pressure that Greg feels from Jack, half of the horrible events that happened during their trip wouldn’t have occurred without Jack intimidating Greg into feeling that he is not good enough to marry his first born child, Pam. Jack feels as though Greg is lying to Pam and her family because he is a liar, but in fact all of his lies that he got caught in where just things he was doing to save himself and get the approval of Jack, but meanwhile made Jack more concerned with the fact that Greg was not acceptable for his daughter. So Jack’s character directly affects the things that Greg’s character encountered because of the intimidation factor between the two of them.
Another pair of character foils throughout the movie is between Greg and Pam’s ex-boyfriend Kevin. Even though Pam claims that she never loved Kevin and is in love with Greg, Greg still feels a little bit of jealousy as a result of Kevin being a main part of the wedding weekend between Pam’s sister and her soon-to-be husband. Kevin is Bob’s best man opposite Pam whom was her sister’s Maid of Honor, making it impossible to get away from Kevin for the entire weekend. Greg’s jealousy would not have occurred if it weren’t for the presence of Kevin, making it difficult for Greg to get around the fact that his girlfriend is spending the weekend around her ex-boyfriend. When they go Kevin’s house, and Greg is meeting him for the first time, Greg doesn’t like the idea of Kevin. He is wealthy and successful and Greg is a male nurse, making him feel indifferent.
3.) Robert De Niro’s character in Meet the Parents is both similar and different from previous characters played by the actor because in this particular movie is a CIA retiree, which in some ways resembles previous characters that he has portrayed. De Niro’s character in Meet the Parents is very psychotic and anal. Yet, he also has a subtle sense of humor that gives him the comedic affect that adds to the movie. This character could also be considered a departure from other roles because of the comedic affect he has, it is extremely sarcastic while can also translate as very intimidating in this case. When Jack wants to give Greg a lie detector test, because Greg was caught in multiple lies from just trying to protect himself from Jack. All Jack wants is a good man and life for his first born child, but Jack makes it very hard on Greg to do so by putting so much pressure on him.
4.) Meet the Parents incorporates and explores a socio-cultural juxtaposition by inserting Greg, whom is Jewish, into a Catholic family. This directly contrasts the two religions immediately when Jack questions him about his religious beliefs. Another socio-cultural juxtaposition presented throughout the film is Greg profession of being a male nurse compared to Pam’s sister’s soon to be husband whom is a doctor along with his father whom is also a doctor. Throughout the film, Greg is frown upon for a being a male nurse and is questioned as to why he chose to be a nurse over being a doctor and that it is culturally unacceptable for a male to become a nurse.
5.) Kevin, Pam’s ex, adds a different dimension to the frameworks of the plot and the characters because of his placement throughout the movie. Not only is Kevin Pam’s ex, he is also the best man in her sister’s wedding because he initiated their meeting. So when Greg finds out that they are going to Kevin’s house for a weekend of fun, Greg is not thrilled in the slightest. Just by the mere fact that Greg has to spend an entire weekend in his girlfriend’s ex’s house, doesn’t make him very happy and the fact that he didn’t know ahead of time doesn’t make him any happier. Pam did not realize that Greg did not know they were going to Kevin’s house. The encounters that Greg and Kevin have a very awkward, not only their encounters but Kevin still had pictures of Pam and himself all over his home, making this weekend even more enjoyable.
6.) Personally, my favorite scene from the movie would be when Greg completely pushed himself over the edge by blowing up Jack’s plans for a secret honeymoon for Pam’s younger sister and her soon to be husband. Greg thought that Jack was not actually retired from the CIA and was planning a mission the day after the wedding, but in fact he was planning a honeymoon. Once he ruined this surprised, the irony of the situation gave it the comedic affect, because Greg thought he was getting back at Jack for all of the things he threw him under the bus for, but in fact threw himself under that bus ever farther. Each of the characters within this scene are also individually characterized by their reactions to what Greg has just announced to the family. Metaphorically speaking, Greg makes up a mission that he thinks Jack is planning but in fact has it all wrong, and unfortunately finds that out the hard way.
1 The scenario of meeting the parents is always an awkward situation for all involved parties. Greg, the hopeful husband, exaggerates and exposes the awkward situation of attempting to qualify as a fitting partner for the father’s daughter Pam. Jack, the father, is trying to see if Greg sizes up to his requirements. The movie Meet the Parents exposes this awkward situation and use that to drive the plot of this film forward. 2 Kevin Vs. Greg. Kevin is a successful, wealthy man. He is a very talented craftsman and stock broker. He seems like the perfect man and is admired by the father, Jack. Greg is just an average guy. He has many funny qualities that are used by the other characters to put him down and seem unsuccessful and inferior. He is a male nurse and his birth name is Gaylord Focker. Kevin Vs. Jack. These characters are pitted against each other to expose and exaggerate how both of these men are extreme in very opposite ways. Jack is a successful man who is looking for the perfect man for his daughter. Greg almost seems as if he doesn’t qualify because of his occupation and his basic traits. He is too average to meets Jack’s extreme standards. 3 Robert DeNiro is most noted for his tough guy roles in other movies. Having him be the father in Meet the Parents is an interesting situation. Toward his family he is loving and caring. Having him play a role where at some points he is a loving caring man is a complete departure from his roles in other movies. Towards Greg he is still a tough guy though. It is fitting to his other roles because of the way he treats him. He is also a CIA agent and interrogates all of his daughter’s boyfriends. 4 In the film meet the Parents, at many points they incorporate and explore a socio-cultural juxtaposition. In the film they combine and compare different social classes. Everyone in the Byrnes and Banks families is successful and wealthy. They display many of the stereotypical snobby rich people characteristics. Greg is an average man. He is a male nurse and is made fun of by everyone else because they are successful doctors, or in other prestigious careers. Greg is also Jewish where as everyone else fits the white catholic mold. 5 Kevin, Pam’s ex, adds to the overall plot of the story as well as expose hidden character dynamics. The main reason for his presence is so he can be a person to compare with Greg and to create tension. He is successful and a very talented craftsman. He is personal friends with Jack, though he isn’t dating Jack’s daughter anymore. Jack sees him as the perfect guy and noticeably is always comparing him to Greg. It is awkward between Greg and Kevin because of how they both loved the same person. The awkward situation of running into a loved one’s ex when you are now in their place has been exaggerated and exposed in the film Meet the Parents. 6 The scene I liked the most in the film was the scene where Greg lets the cat out and has to chase go up onto the roof and try to catch it. When atop the roof he lights a cigarette and lights some of the house, the alter, as well as some of the yard on fire. This scene is the extreme example of how ridiculously bad Greg’s luck is throughout the entire movie. It is an example of how irony is used throughout the movie. He is simply trying to fetch the cat but instead of bringing the cat back he lights fire to their property. The fact that it also ruins Kevin’s alter is ironic considering Kevin’s former relationship with Greg’s girlfriend. This scene also utilizes absurdity. In reality it would be quite tough to light as dramatic and destructive of a fire in that short amount of time. This film utilizes social stereotypes. The stereotypes are more per social class. The family is wealthy and successful in all their careers. They look down upon Greg, who is an average man, because of his career as a nurse.
26 comments:
1. Greg is trying very hard to impress the parents, but finds some way to uninentionally say or do things that don't really impress Jack. This foreshadows the horrible events that come from this later on in the movie.
2. Jack and Greg are foils because Jack makes Greg nervous and uncomfortable, while Greg unknowingly unimpresses Jack.
Kevin and Greg are also foils because Kevin is overachieving and the family loves him. He's kind of in the way of Greg and Pam at times. He makes Greg jealous and feel awkward.
3. He departs from these roles because he acts caring and loving toward a cat and sometimes with his family. He also warms up to Greg at the end of the movie. He stays the same because he's a part of the CIA and he still has that intimidating, Italian personality.
4. Greg is not "normal" because he is a male nurse with the name of Gaylord Focker and he's also Jewish. Pam's family judges him for that because they are all catholic and successful. People find male nurses as an odd way to have a occupation.
5. Kevin makes the movie kind of funnier because he makes things more awkward for Greg, even though Greg had already had bad luck with Pam's whole family. Kevin tops off all of the bad things that could happen to Greg.
6. My favorite scene was the one at the end where Jack watches the video of if the cat was really flushing the toilet. It's effective because Jack sees how Greg lied and then talked bad about Jack while they were on bad terms. He was watching the video when they were on good terms so it's funnier that Greg thought that way about Jack before.
Meeting the parents usually consists of the date trying to impress the parents and the parents attempting to judge for themselves whether or not the date is “worthy” of their child. This movie exaggerates the conflicts and characterizations between these two parties, eventually consuming the both of them and overbears the relationship between Greg and Pam.
Jack and Diana are foils. Jack is a strict, controlling, intimidating, and dominating figure in his CIA ways such as having a rigidly structured schedule and leaving no room for fault while Diana is a warm, accepting, and easy-to-know character who is slow to anger, having to take the culmination of Greg’s mistakes to simply be “disappointed”. Greg and Kevin are also foils; Greg is an eccentric character who is eager to impress and somewhat awkward when put in foreign social situations while Kevin is a suave, intelligent, worldly, and “cool” character which Greg attempts to emulate and surpass.
Robert maintains the hardened and overbearing persona under the context of an innocent and contrasting setting to his character which serves to magnify the “parent from hell” scenario.
The film usually presents several conflicting cultural and social expectations and awkwardly resolve or heighten them.
Kev’s character adds to the awkwardness for Greg. He also is a source of competition for Greg, both in the way of his seemingly flawless character and in the way of Jack’s approval which Greg longs for.
My favorite scene from the film is when Greg is taken from the airplane after having a meltdown and being interrogated by Jack. This scene incorporates irony, seen when Greg turns the interview roles around and becomes the interrogator. Also, Jack’s acceptance and meekness in his realization of the depths of Greg’s love for his daughter serves to resolve the conflict between them. The switching of roles and the literal interpretation of “marrying the family” as well as the wife where Jack proposes to Greg achieves a comic effect as well.
Meeting the parents usually consists of the date trying to impress the parents and the parents attempting to judge for themselves whether or not the date is “worthy” of their child. This movie exaggerates the conflicts and characterizations between these two parties, eventually consuming the both of them and overbears the relationship between Greg and Pam.
Jack and Diana are foils. Jack is a strict, controlling, intimidating, and dominating figure in his CIA ways such as having a rigidly structured schedule and leaving no room for fault while Diana is a warm, accepting, and easy-to-know character who is slow to anger, having to take the culmination of Greg’s mistakes to simply be “disappointed”. Greg and Kevin are also foils; Greg is an eccentric character who is eager to impress and somewhat awkward when put in foreign social situations while Kevin is a suave, intelligent, worldly, and “cool” character which Greg attempts to emulate and surpass.
Robert maintains the hardened and overbearing persona under the context of an innocent and contrasting setting to his character which serves to magnify the “parent from hell” scenario.
The film usually presents several conflicting cultural and social expectations and awkwardly resolve or heighten them.
Kev’s character adds to the awkwardness for Greg. He also is a source of competition for Greg, both in the way of his seemingly flawless character and in the way of Jack’s approval which Greg longs for.
My favorite scene from the film is when Greg is taken from the airplane after having a meltdown and being interrogated by Jack. This scene incorporates irony, seen when Greg turns the interview roles around and becomes the interrogator. Also, Jack’s acceptance and meekness in his realization of the depths of Greg’s love for his daughter serves to resolve the conflict between them. The switching of roles and the literal interpretation of “marrying the family” as well as the wife where Jack proposes to Greg achieves a comic effect as well.
1. The plot of an insecure daughter’s boyfriend and a very controlling and manipulating dad is a very neat basic concept for a comedy like this. Jack somehow manages to put Greg in embarrassing situations all the time. To save himself greg makes up a net of lies that soon leads to serious disasters and finally almost ruins Pams sister's wedding.
2. Greg and Kevin make a huge foil. The fact that Jack likes Kevin a lot more than Greg makes it hard for Jack to make a positive impression. While Kevin is rich guy who sees to live carefree and over the top, Greg works as a nurse and is way more down to earth.
Greg seems to be a foil to everyone in the Byrnes family, but specially Jack. Jack has total control over Greg’s actions, who is scared and awed by him. With his very dominant character, Jack quashed Grg ,who is a kindan very influenceable man.
3. In his role as an overprotective dad who worked as an CIA operator, Robert De Niro has to show the perfect mix of characters he is famous for playing. He mixes his skills together and uses them in a really mean way in order to scare Pam’s boyfriends away. He acts like a psychotic control freak and everybody except Greg knows what's going on.
4. Obviously Greg grew up in a different environment than Pam. Being the only one with this different(not even worse or something,just different) childhood in a group of people who experienced their past together, he stands alone and has to adapt quickly to a routine ihe is not familiar with.
5. Kevin makes Greg’s problem with getting pam’s dad to like him even harder. If you compare kevin and Greg, Kevin looks a lot better, has more money and to Jack he definitely has the better Character while Greg Only is the word nurse who lies and wants his daughter. So there is a weird competition thg going on between those two, but only from Grefs site since Kevin doesn’t even seem to realize Greg’s struggle with the entire Situation.
6. My favourite scene in the movie is when Greg offends the stewardess in the plane when he tries to fly back after all the lies were exposed. He is asked to check in his suitcase, but since the airline had lost it before, he refuses to give it away. He is really stressed out so this woman asking him t give her his luggage is just too much and he totally breaks down, complaining and even calling her a bad word. The scene is very funny because after everything that happened, people think that the bad things are over and than he is not left alone and actually gets thrown off the plane.
Ali Hannon
1. When meeting your partner’s parents, you will always want to give a good first impression. In some cases, you need to make sure that you appear good enough for your partner in their parent’s perspectives. A good example of this is Greg’s case in “Meet the Parents” because he has to impress a retired CIA agent, Jack, who just so happens to treasure his daughter.
2. One pair of foils is Greg and Jack. Greg seems to be a jokester who is just striving for acceptance from Pam’s family. He clearly loves Pam, and is quick to accept her family in hopes of being accepted himself. Jack, in contrast, is intimidating and mysterious because of his CIA background. He loves and cares for his family, but is very protective of all of them. Unlike Greg, he does not trust and accept people easily.
Kevin and Greg seem to be polar opposites despite the fact that Pam dated them both. Kevin is very good at a lot of things and is very religious. He is very nice and accepting, and didn’t question Greg once. Greg, as stated above, is a jokester who doesn’t immediately accept Kevin because of his interest in Pam and how much he seems to impress her. Greg is an incredibly good male nurse and seems to only be good at that, where as Kevin can ‘widdle’ an alter out of one block of wood and do anything else amazingly.
3. Robert DeNiro’s portrayal is very different but also very similar to the gangsters that he is used to playing. His CIA background creates the similarities, as well as the scenes of him taking secret phone calls and having a secret room. The scenes of him expressing his love for his cat, and performing his handshake with Pam, create the contrast.
4. Greg is a middle class Jew, who would prefer to be a male nurse than a doctor. He is surrounded by money on all sides from his Jack and his wife, from Dina’s in laws and from Kevin. All three of these groups are Catholics and they all seem to have a lot of money from their high paying and gender specific jobs.
5. Kevin is a confident Christian who, right down to his appearance, is the complete opposite of Greg. He is completely accepted by Jack, his wife and everybody else in the movie. Everybody loves him and are always impressed by everything that he can do. The pictures of him and Pam going sky diving and such illustrate how well rounded he is compared to Greg who had not been accepted by anyone at the time.
1. There is an inherent awkwardness behind the idea of meeting the parents of one's significant other. There is always the matter of proving that you are good enough for their child, trying to get them to like you, and living up to their expectations. No matter what, it always seems when there is the matter of "meeting the parents", the significant other is never good enough at first. They always have to build trust, suck up to the parents, and try being nice and generous to everyone. More than anything else, it is awkward to be in someone elses home or hometown, where you are completely unfamiliar with your surroundings, and trying to win over the parents. You are not on your home turf and it makes it awkward just being the unfamiliar place. The scenario itself serves a platform to drive the plot forward by showing how Gaylord (aka Greg) is trying to prove himself and win over the parents. As Gaylord tries to win over the parents, he makes mistake after mistake and causes accident after accident to cause the parents to dislike him even more. The parents everntually get to the point where they are disgusted with him and they kick him out of their home. Which of course was justified due to Gaylord causing a fire, ruining the wedding dress, causing multiple accidents and losing Jack's cat.
2. Two character that really bring out qualities in eachother are Jack and Gaylord. Jack brings out Gaylords betters and worst qualities such as his generosity, awkwardness, and his willingness to please. Gaylord brings out Jack's overall badside with qualities such as anger, paranoia, ridiculous expectations and his overprotective personality. This case is caused by Gaylords efforts to please Jack by gaining his trust, living up to his expectations and trying to ask his permission to marry Pam. Another pair of characters that bring out different qualities in eachother are Gaylord and Pam. Gaylord brings out Pam's overall happiness and her nice side. Pam brings out Gaylords non-awkward side, good personality, outgoing characteristics and his willingness to please. Gaylord and Pam bring out all of the good qualities in eachother which is typical of character in their situation.
3.
4.
5. Pam's ex adds a bit to the framework of plot and chacter dynamics. Kevin instantly becomes a threat in Gaylord's eyes because he is rich, outgoing, and seems to be the overall perfect guy for her. Kevin basically serves as another person to compare Gaylord to. Kevin seems to be absolutely perfect while Gaylord is flawed. In the eyes of Jack, Kevin was perfect and Gaylord is the complete wrong fit for Pam. Kevin's qualities lead Gaylord to question himself and if he is right for Pam. It also leads him to think that Pam still loves Kevin and that there could still be something between them. The character of Kevin leads to multiple conflicts with Gaylord in his attempts to win over Jack's trust and to get his permission to ask for Pam's hand in marriage.
6.
1. At some point while dating someone there is a point where the person has to meet their parents. When someone is meeting the parents they try their hardest to impress the parents. They do this to prove that they are indeed "good enough" for their child. Usually when doing this they make a fool of themselves and make themselves look bad. This is a good platform because people can make themselves look really bad while trying hard and can bed very comical.
2. One couple thats a foil is Jack and Dina. Jack is this very masculine,tough guy that is very hard to get to know. Dina is a light-hearted, kind individual who is easy to get to know and doesn't pass judgement easily. Another pair is Greg and Pam because Greg is a quorky, tempered, jealous man. Pam is easy going, down to earth and doesn't question a persons honesty or loyalty.
3. Robert Deniro's Jack is an amalgam of many of the roles he has played in the past because Jacks a complex character. He is a tough guy that is supposed to play by the rules but doesn't. He has a hard core edge to him and isn't afraid to put up a fight. On the other hand it is different because he is apart of the law and is not a bad guy this time.
4. From the beginning Greg was seen as an outsider. He comes from the background of a different religion; Jewish. He was brought up in an easy going family who did not care about acheivement but happiness. The Burns family cares about achievement and is a very strict family due to Jack being in the C.I.A. From the start Greg had to try his hardest to fit in due to the very different backgrounds of the families.
5. Kevin adds to the plot a lot by being Pam's ex boyfriend. Through everyones eyes but Pam's he is the perfect speciman. He is the best match for her and everyone sees it. This drives Greg crazy because he feels that he needs to compete with Kevin for Pam's love. It adds to the comedey because they are in a competition and the lengths they go to impress people adds to the comedic effect.
1. The concept of "meeting the parents" is inherently awkward and serves as a platform for the plot. This is because personal questions are asked, and the parent's approval is decided by the answers and actions of the potential son or daughter-in-law. There is a lot of pressure and it's always going to have uncomfortable moments.
2. Greg and Kevin serve as foils to each other. While Kevin is crafty, rich, and successful, Greg is clumsy and his occupation is mocked by Pam's family. Jack also serves as a foil to Greg, as he is honest and a hardass, unlike the fumbling, fibbing goon that his daughter brings home.
3. Robert De Niro's rolls as serious boxers, gangsters, etc. were incorporated into his character Jack. He is patronizing, sometimes serious, and sometimes an outright jerk. Basically he's a hardass. But he also departs from this persona to be comical and silly.
4. Socio-cultural juxtapositions are included and explored in this movie. For example, while male members of the family are involved in the medical field in the form of doctors and surgeons, Greg is a male nurse. He recieves a lot of ridicule for this, as nursing is typically a female-dominated field. Also, Greg is the only Jewish member of the family, which is emphasised in a condesending way by Pam's family.
5. Kevin's ex adds an important dynamic to the family, as he is adored by Pam's family, despite the fact that they broke off their engagement. His precense, and the perfection that comes with it, emphasis Kevin's imperfections. Meeting a partner's ex is inherently awkward, so it is a great addition to the inherently awkward meeting of the parents.
6. One great scene from Meet the Parents is the one involving volleyball match. The energy and intensity is ridiculous, considering it's just a family pool game. It's pretty great when Greg hits Pam's sister in the face with a volleyball, because of the hyperbolic extent of the injuries-a ball hitting her in the face made about 2 liters of blood pour from her nose, plus gave her a nice shiner right before her wedding.
1. “Meeting the parents” is naturally awkward in the desire to please the family and seem worthy of one’s significant other. It is always uncomfortable to meet people that one’s love interest has relationships with, whether is be family, friends, coworkers or exes, because one wants to impress both their significant other in their interaction and treatment of that person, and likewise, it is important to make a good impression on the other person. These dynamics serve to effectively establish humor in the plot. The characterization of Jack, Pam’s father, and of Greg ascertain more friction and overall uncomfortability which aids in the plot development as well as the comedy of the film.
2. Where Gaylord “Greg” Focker is a warm-hearted, eager to impress male nurse, he effectively foils the character Jack, a hard-to-please retired CIA agent. Although both Greg and Jack value family greatly, they differ in their approaches to such; Jack sees his daughter’s cat, Mr. Jinx, as a son—he even teaches him human abilities, such as using the toilet and bearing wedding rings. On the contrary, Greg is “more of a dog person” and actually “hates cats”, much to Jack’s disdain.
Pam’s current boyfriend, Greg, is somewhat lackluster when compared to her ex-beau, Kevin. Kevin is a wealthy investor, who is sporty, multi-talented, and the object of her father’s approval. On the other hand, Greg is a male nurse who rents, rather than owning a home like Kevin does, and is desperately seeking Jack’s approval and Pam’s hand in marriage. Kevin, who never fails to impress, overshadows Greg and his mediocrity.
3. In “Meet the Parents”, Robert DeNiro departs from his usual hard-ass roles in adopting a more family-oriented character, with a soft-spot for his pet cat. Although the role seems unexpected for DeNiro, Jack Byrnes remains threatening and hard to please. Ever the intimidating man, it is not unusual for him to play a character who was a former CIA agent.
4. The film incorporates taboos and socio-cultural juxtaposition in the employment of a character who works as a male nurse, and the integration of one Jewish character into a religious Christian family.
5. Kevin’s character works as a foil against Greg, and contributes to the character dynamics of the film. Greg is jealous of the handsome, successful Kevin because Jack is very approving of him, and Pam is still friendly with him. Although Kevin plays a supporting role, it is a major part of the family relations.
1. The concept of "meeting the parents" is inherently awkward and serves as a platform for the plot. This is because personal questions are asked, and the parent's approval is decided by the answers and actions of the potential son or daughter-in-law. There is a lot of pressure and it's always going to have uncomfortable moments.
2. Greg and Kevin serve as foils to each other. While Kevin is crafty, rich, and successful, Greg is clumsy and his occupation is mocked by Pam's family. Jack also serves as a foil to Greg, as he is honest and a hardass, unlike the fumbling, fibbing goon that his daughter brings home.
3. Robert De Niro's rolls as serious boxers, gangsters, etc. were incorporated into his character Jack. He is patronizing, sometimes serious, and sometimes an outright jerk. Basically he's a hardass. But he also departs from this persona to be comical and silly.
4. Socio-cultural juxtapositions are included and explored in this movie. For example, while male members of the family are involved in the medical field in the form of doctors and surgeons, Greg is a male nurse. He recieves a lot of ridicule for this, as nursing is typically a female-dominated field. Also, Greg is the only Jewish member of the family, which is emphasised in a condesending way by Pam's family.
5. Kevin's ex adds an important dynamic to the family, as he is adored by Pam's family, despite the fact that they broke off their engagement. His precense, and the perfection that comes with it, emphasis Kevin's imperfections. Meeting a partner's ex is inherently awkward, so it is a great addition to the inherently awkward meeting of the parents.
6. One great scene from Meet the Parents is the one involving volleyball match. The energy and intensity is ridiculous, considering it's just a family pool game. It's pretty great when Greg hits Pam's sister in the face with a volleyball, because of the hyperbolic extent of the injuries-a ball hitting her in the face made about 2 liters of blood pour from her nose, plus gave her a nice shiner right before her wedding.
Meet The Parents Questions
1. In general, most of the time meeting the parents is an awkward time to begin with, but because in this movie the awkwardness between Greg and Jack, keeps getting intensified thus serving as a way to drive the plot forward. While continuously Greg does everything he can do to impress Jack, he continuously just keeps going farther down Jack’s list of people he approves of and likes.
2. One of the main foils in the movie is Greg and Jack. While both of them love Pam dearly, neither of the two can find reasons to like the other. Jack was part of the CIA, while Greg is a male nurse, which are total opposites of the time period and something many find funny, because only woman are supposed to be nurses at the time.
Another pair of foils would be Greg and Kevin. Greg and Kevin are complete opposites. Kevin is a handy man who just so happens to have the approval of Jack for the whole movie, while Greg is the farthest thing from a handy man and fights for Jack’s approval consistently. Kevin is filthy rich, semi full of himself, while Greg is just a normal guy, where nothing is really particularly great of him. While both are have complete opposite religions, with Greg being a Jew and Kevin being a Christian. Thus, appearing to be foils of each other to the viewer.
3. Robert DeNiro appears to continue in acting a similar role to boxers, gangsters, and psychopathic taxi drivers, in the aspect of him being a previous CIA agent and his crazy driving skills near the end of the movie. Jack, played by Robert DeNiro, acts as a tough and controlling guy whose mannerisms are quite similar to those of a gangster. With his meeting in the parking lot, it appeared to be a very secretive meeting much like a gangster would in fact have.
4. A socio-cultural juxtaposition is incorporated and explored in the film with the aspect of both Greg and Kevin. Greg is a middle classed Jew while being a male nurse, which is nothing close to the rest of the characters in the movie. While the other characters are all of Christian descent, and they are higher up on the economic scale and do not necessarily believe in male nurses.
5. Kevin, Pam’s ex, adds to the frameworks of plot and character dynamics by causing more issues and drama surrounding Greg and getting to know the family and getting the approval by Jack. He continuously brings out the worst in Greg and causes him to continuously make an awful impression towards Jack and keeps him on edge throughout the movie.
1. There is an inherent awkwardness behind the idea of meeting the parents of one's significant other. There is always the matter of proving that you are good enough for their child, trying to get them to like you, and living up to their expectations. No matter what, it always seems when there is the matter of "meeting the parents", the significant other is never good enough at first. They always have to build trust, suck up to the parents, and try being nice and generous to everyone. More than anything else, it is awkward to be in someone else’s home or hometown, where you are completely unfamiliar with your surroundings, and trying to win over the parents. You are not on your home turf and it makes it awkward just being the unfamiliar place. The scenario itself serves a platform to drive the plot forward by showing how Gaylord (aka Greg) is trying to prove himself and win over the parents. As Gaylord tries to win over the parents, he makes mistake after mistake and causes accident after accident to cause the parents to dislike him even more. The parents eventually get to the point where they are disgusted with him and they kick him out of their home. Which of course was justified due to Gaylord causing a fire, ruining the wedding dress, causing multiple accidents and losing Jack's cat.
2. Two character that really bring out qualities in eachother are Jack and Gaylord. Jack brings out Gaylords betters and worst qualities such as his generosity, awkwardness, and his willingness to please. Gaylord brings out Jack's overall badside with qualities such as anger, paranoia, ridiculous expectations and his overprotective personality. This case is caused by Gaylords efforts to please Jack by gaining his trust, living up to his expectations and trying to ask his permission to marry Pam. Another pair of characters that bring out different qualities in eachother are Gaylord and Pam. Gaylord brings out Pam's overall happiness and her nice side. Pam brings out Gaylords non-awkward side, good personality, outgoing characteristics and his willingness to please. Gaylord and Pam bring out all of the good qualities in eachother which is typical of character in their situation.
3. Robert Deniro’s character in Meet The Parents is both similar and different to many of his other roles in movies. In many of Deniro’s movies, he typically plays the tough-guy mobster/mob boss, psychopath or an overall scary guy. The character Jack in Meet The Parents is in no way similar to Deniro’s other characters such as Casey from Cape Fear or his character in Taxi Driver. Jack is a family man who wants nothing more than to make his loved ones happy. This is a total departure from all of his other roles. Deniro never plays a character that is funny, happy, loving or caring. Also, Deniro never does comedy in general. He is always in action, suspense, thriller, and crime movies. The only real thing that makes Jack similar to Deniro’s other characters is that the character is a retired CIA agent. This lets his character be very intelligent, observant, tough, secretive and intimidating, much like Deniro’s other characters.
4. The film explores the idea of “meeting the parents” by showing the first-hand experiences of a man who is trying to ask permission to marry his girlfriend. It basically explores the worst situations that could occur while in the process of gaining the approval of the parents and their permission to have their daughter married.
5. Pam's ex adds a bit to the framework of plot and character dynamics. Kevin instantly becomes a threat in Gaylord's eyes because he is rich, outgoing, and seems to be the overall perfect guy for her. Kevin basically serves as another person to compare Gaylord to. Kevin seems to be absolutely perfect while Gaylord is flawed. In the eyes of Jack, Kevin was perfect and Gaylord is the complete wrong fit for Pam. Kevin's qualities lead Gaylord to question himself and if he is right for Pam. It also leads him to think that Pam still loves Kevin and that there could still be something between them. The character of Kevin leads to multiple conflicts with Gaylord in his attempts to win over Jack's trust and to get his permission to ask for Pam's hand in marriage.
6. My favorite scene from the movie is when Ben Stiller’s character is sitting at dinner with Pam and her parents when they ask him to say grace even though is Jewish. Stiller’s character Gaylord starts to say grace and he has no idea what he is doing when he is saying it. He starts to say how god is a gentle god, that he is great, that they would like to see him more clearly, follow him more nearly and love him more dearly. During this scene, Gaylord breaks the urn that is holding the ashes of Jack’s mother. During the scene, Jack reads a poem his wrote that is full of information about how his mother died and at one specific part where an “unstoppable rebel force” is mentioned. The comic effect in this scene is achieved through irony, cluelessness in the situation, absurdity, blunder and realism. The realism of the situation causes a comic effect because it seems like something that could actually happen at the dinner table. Where one person may not of the catholic faith and tries to say grace based on the stereotypical graces scene/heard on television. The blunder of Gaylord’s “grace” is comical in itself because he says things in the grace that are never heard when speaking it. He says phrases and lines that could almost be in an attempt to be poetic in order to please the parents of Pam.
Amelia M.
Meet the Parents
1. Greg feels somewhat comfortable before going into meeting Pam’s parents in the movie “Meet the Parents”, but when he actually meets them in person, he is awkward because he’s never met them before and really doesn’t know how to act around them. The movie exaggerates the meeting of one’s significant other’s parents by showing the awkwardness of the meeting, but it’s really not that uncomfortable in real life because the parents are very excited to meet the newest potential member of their family. In real life, the parents usually like the newest member of the family; they don’t go out of their way to make the new person feel awkward and uncomfortable.
2. The first important pair of foils in this movie is Greg and Jack. Jack seems like he has it more together and seems more accomplished than Greg. Jack doesn’t like that Greg is a male nurse because he doesn’t think that it’s a manly profession and he keeps asking Greg why he doesn’t go out for a higher profession like a doctor. Greg is the complete opposite of Jack because Jack is very strict, while he himself is much more laid back and easygoing, not really caring about the fact that he’s a male nurse. Another pair of foils is Greg and Pam’s ex, Kevin; there are some very different qualities between the two of them, which makes the relationship between Greg and Jack awkward. Jack seems very fond and close with Kevin, and he really seems to like him much more than Greg because of his accomplishments. Greg isn’t as wealthy or high up as Kevin, which makes him more liked than Greg by everyone else in the family.
3. I’ve never seen another movie with Robert DeNiro, but I can see that his character of Jack mixes a bunch of different personalities together. He seems like he is tough and strict like a gangster and isn’t a push over like most fathers. When he is driving home from the restaurant to beat Greg to catch him about the cat, he is driving like a maniac, like a crazy taxi driver would. His character of Jack is somewhat like these characters, but it’s mostly its own character and personality. Jack has his own qualities that make him separate from the other characters that DeNiro has played in past movies.
4. This movie incorporates a socio-cultural juxtaposition by showing the differences between Greg and some of the other characters. Greg is a male nurse and Jack, along with Debbie’s husband and father-in-law seem to not have any respect for him because of it. Kevin is better than Greg in a bunch of different ways and the movie compares the two in both career and religion. Jack obviously likes and respects Kevin much more because of the choices he has made in life. Greg is of different religion than the other characters; which makes him the odd man out while both saying grace and asking about Kevin’s chapel. Greg is an important character because he helps highlight the bad qualities of the other characters.
5. Kevin is also a somewhat important character for a few reasons. He is obviously the favorite of Jack because of all of his choices and accomplishments and Jack respects him much more than Greg. Kevin has good relationships with the family, even though he isn’t getting married to Pam anymore. He adds the assistance to highlight Greg’s good qualities and to show why exactly Pam chose him over Kevin. I personally didn’t like Kevin because he seems like he’s better than Greg, even though Greg was chosen by Pam.
6. My favorite scene of the movie was at the dinner table when Greg was trying to say grace the correct way. Comedy and satire were used because it was making fun of his inability to say grace because of his religion. Foil character was used as well because Jack could have easily said grace better than Greg because he is more experienced. Juxtaposition was used as well when Greg was saying grace because it showed how he was different in religion from the rest of the characters.
1. It is very awkward when Greg first meets Pam’s parents. He is trying so hard to impress them that he just makes mistakes, rather than acting normal. Sarcasm between Greg and Jack cause an extreme awkwardness also. The idea of meeting parents is just awkward as it is, and Greg and Jack’s relationship makes it even worse.
2. Greg and Jack are foils. Jack is very literal and Greg is very sarcastic, causing conflict between the two. Jack acts like the perfect human, being very strict while Greg seems more fun and such. Greg and Kevin are also foils. They are compared in the relationship with Pam. Also, they are two completely different people that really bring out each other’s differences.
3. DeNiro’s Jack is an amalgam of all of these roles and personas because he plays a psychotic father who has a tough attitude and is very strict with his business, as boxers and gangsters would be. It is a departure from these roles because these roles do not bring out the sensitive side of a father’s perspective.
4. The film incorporates socio-cultural juxtaposition in a few ways. One major way is that Greg is an outsider when placed in a position with a family of people who have already met, and he hasn’t met any of them yet. Also, Greg is placed in an environment of all medical figures such as doctors who are very high up in the medical world. Greg is just a nurse, so the other people exile him and pick on him.
5. Kevin brings jealousy to Greg. He also brings someone to compare Greg to and to criticize him. He also shows that although Pam could be with someone who seems to be the perfect guy she still would rather be with Greg because she loves him. It really shows the extent of the relationship that Pam and Greg have.
6. My favorite scene of the film is when Greg loses the cat and sets the backyard on fire. This is my favorite scene because it is the point where Greg really screws up big-time and everything falls together on him. He loses the beloved cat, he sets the yard on fire, sets the alter on fire, and also exposes his “weakness” of smoking. Comic effect is caused by tragedy and slapstick.
1. It is very awkward when Greg first meets Pam’s parents. He is trying so hard to impress them that he just makes mistakes, rather than acting normal. Sarcasm between Greg and Jack cause an extreme awkwardness also. The idea of meeting parents is just awkward as it is, and Greg and Jack’s relationship makes it even worse.
2. Greg and Jack are foils. Jack is very literal and Greg is very sarcastic, causing conflict between the two. Jack acts like the perfect human, being very strict while Greg seems more fun and such. Greg and Kevin are also foils. They are compared in the relationship with Pam. Also, they are two completely different people that really bring out each other’s differences.
3. DeNiro’s Jack is an amalgam of all of these roles and personas because he plays a psychotic father who has a tough attitude and is very strict with his business, as boxers and gangsters would be. It is a departure from these roles because these roles do not bring out the sensitive side of a father’s perspective.
4. The film incorporates socio-cultural juxtaposition in a few ways. One major way is that Greg is an outsider when placed in a position with a family of people who have already met, and he hasn’t met any of them yet. Also, Greg is placed in an environment of all medical figures such as doctors who are very high up in the medical world. Greg is just a nurse, so the other people exile him and pick on him.
5. Kevin brings jealousy to Greg. He also brings someone to compare Greg to and to criticize him. He also shows that although Pam could be with someone who seems to be the perfect guy she still would rather be with Greg because she loves him. It really shows the extent of the relationship that Pam and Greg have.
6. My favorite scene of the film is when Greg loses the cat and sets the backyard on fire. This is my favorite scene because it is the point where Greg really screws up big-time and everything falls together on him. He loses the beloved cat, he sets the yard on fire, sets the alter on fire, and also exposes his “weakness” of smoking. Comic effect is caused by tragedy and slapstick.
6. My favorite scene in the film is when Greg flips out on the stewardess. Everything up until then he bottled up and kept it inside. Characterization was used because of how they depicted Greg. At some point in time he was going to explode and she just pushed him over the limit. He hit his breaking point. It was great because normally in this type of situstion someone would not get so angry but in his case he did. Irony was used because of all people I thought he was going to flip out on Jack but instead it was the stewardess. Also he ended up fighting over his luggage which is what started the craziness in the beginning of the movie. Another thing that happened was a simile and thats because he was saying its not like I have a bomb in my bag and everyone took it the wrong way. Thats really when mayhem started.
6. The scene at the airport achieves a comedic effect through the combined use of irony, hyperbole, anecdote, characterization, and closure. When Greg turns the tables on Jack with the "human lie detector", an ironic humor is introduced. In the airplane, Greg relates an anecdote of his recent experience with checking bags in protest to the flight attendent. The dramatic characterization of the stewardess as well as Gred and Jack is useful in creating a comic effect and in establishing closure between the two men.
1. Meeting the parents for any relationship for a guy can be stressful and awkward. So the movie took these awkward scenarios and made them the worst possible outcome to these scenarios. Also the conflict between Jack and Greg portrays a more intense struggle to gain approval which could provide more comical confrontations.
2.Greg and Jack are the most obvious foils since they are the main characters. Greg has a sarcastic tone and attitude while Jack is a more serious fellow that takes literal meanings for everything. For example the puff dragon was an interesting scenario. Also Greg and Kevin are also foils since their relationship with Pam is compared. Kevins was more physical and sexual which Greg has an emotion and loving relationship with Pam.
3.Robert DeNiro is good at playing hardass characters that are rock solid on the inside and out, and having a father who is part of the CIA was a perfect role for him. However by the end of the movie Jack ends up softening up to Greg because he realizes that Pam loves Greg.
4.The doctors in the movie are separating themselves from the nurse genre because they feel that they are higher up in the social class. Greg comes into this family that has already met each other and grown comfortable with each other so he is out of the loop.
5.Kevin is just another abnormal character that is to prove that Greg is fact a normal character but stands out of this environment of peculiar characters.
6. The scene where Greg walks into Jacks secret den and Jack walks in on him. The whole confrontation is seriously awkward since Greg thinks he has been caught creeping. This scene is also a big part because it sets up the suspicion in Greg’s mind and unfolds the last straw to his meet the parents episode. Certain literary devices in this scene include deadpan, trans-embarrassment for Greg, a farce, foil, and inflation.
1. In the course of one’s life, they usually meet someone that they want to spend the rest of their life with. Finding this person can be difficult, but meeting that person’s parents may prove to be even harder. Meeting someone’s parents for the first time is always an awkward experience. It is especially difficult for men to be accepted by the father of their significant other. As a father, it is commonplace to be skeptical and suspicious of potential suitors. This is magnified in the satire “Meet the Parents” as the ex-CIA father, Jack, breaks down the male nurse and potential suitor, Greg.
2. As Greg goes through his nightmarish weekend at his girlfriend’s parents house, he encounter’s two characters that are foils of him. The first foil is Pam’s father, Jack. Jack is ex-CIA, and a very rigid character with an intimidating demeanor that values honesty over anything else. This is in stark contrast to Greg because Greg is a very average man who gets caught up in a web of lies in an attempt to gain the approval of Jack. Kevin, Pam’s ex-fiancé, is also a foil of Greg because Kevin is extremely wealthy, talented, and is already accepted into Pam’s family, unlike Greg.
3. Robert DeNiro is known for playing tough guys. In all of his previous roles he has been a bit of a badass. DeNiro’s character, Jack, is an ex-CIA operative that has been hardened through years of espionage. Though rough on the exterior, Jack also has a very soft side. He has a very close relationship with his cat, and likes to listen to “Puff the Magic Dragon”. These qualities make him very similar to his usual characters, but also a slight departure from his comfort zone.
4. “Meet the parents” satires the system of social class due to occupation. Greg is a male nurse who makes a moderate salary, but loves what he does. When he is thrown into meeting his Girlfriend Pam’s family, every man he meets seems to be more successful than him. Jack is a wealthy, retired CIA agent, Bob and his father are both doctors, and Kevin is a trader on the stock market. All these people represent the pressure from society to make money. This creates another level of separation between Greg and the rest of the male characters.
5. Kevin, Pam’s ex-fiancé, adds contrast and awkwardness to the already awkward situation that Greg finds himself in. Kevin is the polar opposite of Greg in just about every regard. He is rich, talented, affluent, and is loved by Pam’s family. Also the awkwardness of being around someone’s ex is quite powerful. The fact that Kevin is a major part of the wedding adds to Greg’s feelings of incompetence.
6. When Greg gets on the airplane and tries to stuff his large carry-on bag into the over head compartment, he finds it to be too big. Incorporating physical humor, he struggles trying to force it in, until the stewardess comes and tells him that he has to check the bag. He gets in a shouting match with her and satires many of the flaws in the airline system. The situation gets blown out of proportion very quickly, as a form of hyperbole. Bombastic humor is used when Greg goes on a harsh rant about how he should not have to check his bag, with several profanities incorporated. The ridiculousness of this scene is what makes it my favorite.
“Meet the Parents”
Samuel Carignan
1. “Meet the Parents” contains inherently awkward dynamics which are caused by the situations that are set Greg has to face. These scenarios help to drive the plot forward and also add humor to the movie. One example is when Greg meets Kevin, this was humorous because Greg was trying to best Kevin for Pam’s attention but it also furthered the plot by adding a new dynamic to the plot.
2. Within the film there are two foils, Greg and Kevin and Greg and Jack. Greg and Kevin, Pam’s ex boyfriend, are almost complete opposites. Greg is very loving, but is unskillful and not very rich where as Kevin is very skillful, rich but not as loving as Greg. Jack is also a foil to Greg, but they do have a similarity; they both love Pam very much. Jack is always a serious, determined and protective of his daughter. This can be very awkward for both of them because their differences always lead to a major conflict.
3. Robert DeNiro is famous for playing very serious roles, and in some ways he still was and in others was not in “Meet the Parents”. Jack is in the CIA, drives like a maniac and is very threatening towards Greg. This side of him is what helps to reveal the compassionate side of him. He owns a cat and taught is tricks, writes poems about his dead mother and is extremely loving and protective of his daughters.
4. Greg is juxtaposed within the film by the characters that he always interacts with. It especially is juxtaposed when the film explores a socio-cultural theme. He and Pam love each other despite all of their opposites of religion, views on pets, family and occupations. When it comes to himself and Jack, a whole new experience is created. The major difference between them is that Jack is a CIA agent and Jack is a civilian, which is the cause of many of their fights, especially over Pam. With these three characters, the film demonstrated how social issues between people can define a culture in just a few minutes.
5. Kevin, Pam’s ex-boyfriend, adds to the entire plot and character dynamics of the film. Without Kevin, Greg would only have to win over the affection of Pam’s father, not Pam herself as well. Kevin also contributes to the humor and foil of Greg, because they are opposites, the two of them interacting becomes quite humorous to the audience in their “mad dash” for Pam’s love. Also the addition of another strange character adds to the overall comedic affect of the movie in order to make it a “film to last throughout the ages”.
6. My favorite scene from the movie is when the group returns from the restaurant to find the house in disarray. This seems to be the climax of the film at the moment because all of the previous events have led up to this. Also, Jack uses the persuasive form of ethos to try to scare Greg because he “knows his daughter best”. Greg, on the other hand, uses logos by saying that the odds of him being bad are slim to none. The humor in this scene is that the cat destroying all of the wedding items was already foreshadowed by Greg when he tried to trick Jack and everyone else. The final key part that makes the scene are the foils that finally become as large as they can be. Up until now all of the people who dislike Greg have been quiet about it but now they are yelling it in front of his face. It is a very sad scene, but most people cannot help but laugh at the scene and the people in it.
6. The Meet the Parents scene with Greg at the airport after his fight with Pam and her family, was quite comical. At this point, the entire scene characterizes Greg in a more descriptive way than what was seen throughout the rest of the movie. He starts screaming at the stewardess when she tries to take his bag from him, because the airline did already lose his bag the first time. He just wanted it there where he could see it and know it would get where it was supposed to be. Then he gets carried off the plane by saying “it’s not like I have a bomb inside”, which he specifically said he did not have a bomb, but because he said the word bomb, he obviously got in trouble. Coincidently, by him getting kicked off the plane helped him get back to Pam, because Jack talked to him and got to bring him back with him and the two made up and got on better terms with each other.
1 The scenario of meeting the parents is always an awkward situation for all involved parties. Greg, the hopeful husband, exaggerates and exposes the awkward situation of attempting to qualify as a fitting partner for the father’s daughter Pam. Jack, the father, is trying to see if Greg sizes up to his requirements. The movie Meet the Parents exposes this awkward situation and use that to drive the plot of this film forward.
2 Kevin Vs. Greg. Kevin is a successful, wealthy man. He is a very talented craftsman and stock broker. He seems like the perfect man and is admired by the father, Jack. Greg is just an average guy. He has many funny qualities that are used by the other characters to put him down and seem unsuccessful and inferior. He is a male nurse and his birth name is Gaylord Focker.
Kevin Vs. Jack. These characters are pitted against each other to expose and exaggerate how both of these men are extreme in very opposite ways. Jack is a successful man who is looking for the perfect man for his daughter. Greg almost seems as if he doesn’t qualify because of his occupation and his basic traits. He is too average to meets Jack’s extreme standards.
3 Robert DeNiro is most noted for his tough guy roles in other movies. Having him be the father in Meet the Parents is an interesting situation. Toward his family he is loving and caring. Having him play a role where at some points he is a loving caring man is a complete departure from his roles in other movies. Towards Greg he is still a tough guy though. It is fitting to his other roles because of the way he treats him. He is also a CIA agent and interrogates all of his daughter’s boyfriends.
4 In the film meet the Parents, at many points they incorporate and explore a socio-cultural juxtaposition. In the film they combine and compare different social classes. Everyone in the Byrnes and Banks families is successful and wealthy. They display many of the stereotypical snobby rich people characteristics. Greg is an average man. He is a male nurse and is made fun of by everyone else because they are successful doctors, or in other prestigious careers. Greg is also Jewish where as everyone else fits the white catholic mold.
5 Kevin, Pam’s ex, adds to the overall plot of the story as well as expose hidden character dynamics. The main reason for his presence is so he can be a person to compare with Greg and to create tension. He is successful and a very talented craftsman. He is personal friends with Jack, though he isn’t dating Jack’s daughter anymore. Jack sees him as the perfect guy and noticeably is always comparing him to Greg. It is awkward between Greg and Kevin because of how they both loved the same person. The awkward situation of running into a loved one’s ex when you are now in their place has been exaggerated and exposed in the film Meet the Parents.
6 The scene I liked the most in the film was the scene where Greg lets the cat out and has to chase go up onto the roof and try to catch it. When atop the roof he lights a cigarette and lights some of the house, the alter, as well as some of the yard on fire. This scene is the extreme example of how ridiculously bad Greg’s luck is throughout the entire movie. It is an example of how irony is used throughout the movie. He is simply trying to fetch the cat but instead of bringing the cat back he lights fire to their property. The fact that it also ruins Kevin’s alter is ironic considering Kevin’s former relationship with Greg’s girlfriend. This scene also utilizes absurdity. In reality it would be quite tough to light as dramatic and destructive of a fire in that short amount of time. This film utilizes social stereotypes. The stereotypes are more per social class. The family is wealthy and successful in all their careers. They look down upon Greg, who is an average man, because of his career as a nurse.
1.) There are many aspects of “Meeting the Parents” that can be awkward, besides meeting the parents of your significant other for the first time can be nerve racking, especially when you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into. When Pam takes Greg home to meet her parents for the first time, Greg feels intimidated by Pam’s father, who he finds out is a CIA retiree. One specific occurrence that made Greg feel even more awkward was when the family cat is treated like a member of the family and is trained in various tricks, which Greg cannot understand. The whole family dynamic is based on the fact that the father figure, played by Robert De Niro, and the intimidation factor that he withholds.
2.) One pair character foils is between Greg and Pam’s father, Jack. Without the pressure that Greg feels from Jack, half of the horrible events that happened during their trip wouldn’t have occurred without Jack intimidating Greg into feeling that he is not good enough to marry his first born child, Pam. Jack feels as though Greg is lying to Pam and her family because he is a liar, but in fact all of his lies that he got caught in where just things he was doing to save himself and get the approval of Jack, but meanwhile made Jack more concerned with the fact that Greg was not acceptable for his daughter. So Jack’s character directly affects the things that Greg’s character encountered because of the intimidation factor between the two of them.
Another pair of character foils throughout the movie is between Greg and Pam’s ex-boyfriend Kevin. Even though Pam claims that she never loved Kevin and is in love with Greg, Greg still feels a little bit of jealousy as a result of Kevin being a main part of the wedding weekend between Pam’s sister and her soon-to-be husband. Kevin is Bob’s best man opposite Pam whom was her sister’s Maid of Honor, making it impossible to get away from Kevin for the entire weekend. Greg’s jealousy would not have occurred if it weren’t for the presence of Kevin, making it difficult for Greg to get around the fact that his girlfriend is spending the weekend around her ex-boyfriend. When they go Kevin’s house, and Greg is meeting him for the first time, Greg doesn’t like the idea of Kevin. He is wealthy and successful and Greg is a male nurse, making him feel indifferent.
3.) Robert De Niro’s character in Meet the Parents is both similar and different from previous characters played by the actor because in this particular movie is a CIA retiree, which in some ways resembles previous characters that he has portrayed. De Niro’s character in Meet the Parents is very psychotic and anal. Yet, he also has a subtle sense of humor that gives him the comedic affect that adds to the movie. This character could also be considered a departure from other roles because of the comedic affect he has, it is extremely sarcastic while can also translate as very intimidating in this case. When Jack wants to give Greg a lie detector test, because Greg was caught in multiple lies from just trying to protect himself from Jack. All Jack wants is a good man and life for his first born child, but Jack makes it very hard on Greg to do so by putting so much pressure on him.
4.) Meet the Parents incorporates and explores a socio-cultural juxtaposition by inserting Greg, whom is Jewish, into a Catholic family. This directly contrasts the two religions immediately when Jack questions him about his religious beliefs. Another socio-cultural juxtaposition presented throughout the film is Greg profession of being a male nurse compared to Pam’s sister’s soon to be husband whom is a doctor along with his father whom is also a doctor. Throughout the film, Greg is frown upon for a being a male nurse and is questioned as to why he chose to be a nurse over being a doctor and that it is culturally unacceptable for a male to become a nurse.
5.) Kevin, Pam’s ex, adds a different dimension to the frameworks of the plot and the characters because of his placement throughout the movie. Not only is Kevin Pam’s ex, he is also the best man in her sister’s wedding because he initiated their meeting. So when Greg finds out that they are going to Kevin’s house for a weekend of fun, Greg is not thrilled in the slightest. Just by the mere fact that Greg has to spend an entire weekend in his girlfriend’s ex’s house, doesn’t make him very happy and the fact that he didn’t know ahead of time doesn’t make him any happier. Pam did not realize that Greg did not know they were going to Kevin’s house. The encounters that Greg and Kevin have a very awkward, not only their encounters but Kevin still had pictures of Pam and himself all over his home, making this weekend even more enjoyable.
6.) Personally, my favorite scene from the movie would be when Greg completely pushed himself over the edge by blowing up Jack’s plans for a secret honeymoon for Pam’s younger sister and her soon to be husband. Greg thought that Jack was not actually retired from the CIA and was planning a mission the day after the wedding, but in fact he was planning a honeymoon. Once he ruined this surprised, the irony of the situation gave it the comedic affect, because Greg thought he was getting back at Jack for all of the things he threw him under the bus for, but in fact threw himself under that bus ever farther. Each of the characters within this scene are also individually characterized by their reactions to what Greg has just announced to the family. Metaphorically speaking, Greg makes up a mission that he thinks Jack is planning but in fact has it all wrong, and unfortunately finds that out the hard way.
1 The scenario of meeting the parents is always an awkward situation for all involved parties. Greg, the hopeful husband, exaggerates and exposes the awkward situation of attempting to qualify as a fitting partner for the father’s daughter Pam. Jack, the father, is trying to see if Greg sizes up to his requirements. The movie Meet the Parents exposes this awkward situation and use that to drive the plot of this film forward.
2 Kevin Vs. Greg. Kevin is a successful, wealthy man. He is a very talented craftsman and stock broker. He seems like the perfect man and is admired by the father, Jack. Greg is just an average guy. He has many funny qualities that are used by the other characters to put him down and seem unsuccessful and inferior. He is a male nurse and his birth name is Gaylord Focker.
Kevin Vs. Jack. These characters are pitted against each other to expose and exaggerate how both of these men are extreme in very opposite ways. Jack is a successful man who is looking for the perfect man for his daughter. Greg almost seems as if he doesn’t qualify because of his occupation and his basic traits. He is too average to meets Jack’s extreme standards.
3 Robert DeNiro is most noted for his tough guy roles in other movies. Having him be the father in Meet the Parents is an interesting situation. Toward his family he is loving and caring. Having him play a role where at some points he is a loving caring man is a complete departure from his roles in other movies. Towards Greg he is still a tough guy though. It is fitting to his other roles because of the way he treats him. He is also a CIA agent and interrogates all of his daughter’s boyfriends.
4 In the film meet the Parents, at many points they incorporate and explore a socio-cultural juxtaposition. In the film they combine and compare different social classes. Everyone in the Byrnes and Banks families is successful and wealthy. They display many of the stereotypical snobby rich people characteristics. Greg is an average man. He is a male nurse and is made fun of by everyone else because they are successful doctors, or in other prestigious careers. Greg is also Jewish where as everyone else fits the white catholic mold.
5 Kevin, Pam’s ex, adds to the overall plot of the story as well as expose hidden character dynamics. The main reason for his presence is so he can be a person to compare with Greg and to create tension. He is successful and a very talented craftsman. He is personal friends with Jack, though he isn’t dating Jack’s daughter anymore. Jack sees him as the perfect guy and noticeably is always comparing him to Greg. It is awkward between Greg and Kevin because of how they both loved the same person. The awkward situation of running into a loved one’s ex when you are now in their place has been exaggerated and exposed in the film Meet the Parents.
6 The scene I liked the most in the film was the scene where Greg lets the cat out and has to chase go up onto the roof and try to catch it. When atop the roof he lights a cigarette and lights some of the house, the alter, as well as some of the yard on fire. This scene is the extreme example of how ridiculously bad Greg’s luck is throughout the entire movie. It is an example of how irony is used throughout the movie. He is simply trying to fetch the cat but instead of bringing the cat back he lights fire to their property. The fact that it also ruins Kevin’s alter is ironic considering Kevin’s former relationship with Greg’s girlfriend. This scene also utilizes absurdity. In reality it would be quite tough to light as dramatic and destructive of a fire in that short amount of time. This film utilizes social stereotypes. The stereotypes are more per social class. The family is wealthy and successful in all their careers. They look down upon Greg, who is an average man, because of his career as a nurse.
Post a Comment