‘Little Fockers’ disappoints

The Meet the Parents franchise seemed to be one written in cinematic gold. The 2000 original, starring Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro and directed by Jay Roach, grossed an unbelievable amount at the box office, and its sequel, Meet the Fockers, was the big Christmastime draw of 2004.

Does the magic continue for the inevitable third installment, Little Fockers, directed by Paul Weitz, of About a Boy fame?

Unfortunately, the franchise has lost its footing and appears to be all but over. It would be great to report that Little Fockers grows on the zaniness of its two predecessors, but the film is a mere exercise in rehashing old jokes and throwing in a few new ones for good measure. The result is not funny, and begs the question, why?

Greg and Pam Focker, played by Stiller and Teri Polo, now live in Chicago with Greg finding his nursing career taking off. He’s courted by pharmaceutical reps (including the luscious Jessica Alba) and he offers academic papers to the medical community like he were a doctor.

De Niro plays Jack Byrnes, and he’s still spying on Greg, his son-in-law, with laser eyes. Blythe Danner is still Jack’s sexually frustrated wife, Dina.

The comedic highlights of the second film, Dustin Hoffman and Barbara Streisand as Greg’s oddball parents, are reduced to mere cameos in Little Fockers. Bernie Focker (Hoffman) is off in Spain, living his lifelong dream of becoming a flamenco dancer. Roz Focker (Streisand) has taken her sex therapy to new heights with a successful television program, a la Oprah Winfrey or Dr. Ruth.

Owen Wilson is still Kevin Rawley, the impossibly successful former lover of Pam. Jinksy the cat even turns up for a few supposed laughs.

The problem with these characters is that they have either not progressed or they have evolved to such incredible heights that they feel wooden and make-believe. Roz Focker as the next TV sex therapist? Greg Focker as the nation’s top nurse?

What brings all of these disparate characters together is a birthday party in Chicago for Greg and Pam’s twin sons. Most of the jokes when the whole crew is back together feel ripped off from the two previous installments. Of the new gags, there’s nothing too funny. Instead of commentaries on living with difficult family members, you get Greg teaching Jack how to diffuse complications after taking a Viagra-type pill.

Little Fockers isn’t an utter failure. You still laugh, and its 98 minutes still fly by. But for such a successful franchise, one hoped that the third time would have been the charm.

• Little Fockers

• 2010

• Directed by Paul Weitz

• Written by John Hamburg and Larry Stuckey

• Starring Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, Robert De Niro, Blythe Danner, Dustin Hoffman, Barbara Streisand, Jessica Alba and Owen Wilson

• Running time: 98 minutes

• Rated PG-13 for mature sexual humor, language and some drug content

• Bubble score: 1.5 out of 4

• Click here to purchase Little Fockers on DVD.