--- title: "Meet the Fockers: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/meet-the-fockers/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/meet-the-fockers" critics_score: 48 critics_reviews: 11 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Meet the Fockers (2004): what the critics said Critics' score 48 from 11 reviews: 2 positive, 4 mixed, 5 negative. The consensus on Meet the Fockers leans towards disappointment, though most critics find something to enjoy in the performances. Dustin Hoffman attracts the most consistent praise for his energy and good-natured mischief, while Barbra Streisand earns credit for making broad comedy feel relaxed. Even several unfavourable reviews find that the pair provide welcome amusement. The recurring distinction is between a cast that can still raise laughs and material that gives them too little fresh work to do. The reviews differ sharply on how far those performances carry the sequel. Total Film finds an entertaining comedy, particularly in Hoffman’s chemistry with Robert De Niro; The AV Club sees a lazy retread that wastes its cast. Reservations centre on recycled humiliation, strained gross-out gags and repetition. De Niro also divides opinion: The Guardian credits him with keeping the film watchable, while Slant Magazine objects to his mugging. ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 4/5. 28 January 2005. The review finds the sequel entertaining, despite some jokes falling flat. It singles out the all-star cast’s exuberant performances, especially the chemistry between Hoffman and De Niro. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/meet-the-fockers-review/) ## Screen Daily — John Hazelton Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 22 December 2004. The visible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. The paywall also hides what the review singles out for praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/meet-the-fockers/4021422.article) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 63/100 (inferred from the text). The page identifies a review, but its contents are unavailable. The critic’s verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be verified. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/meet-the-fockers-2004) ## Radio Times — Andrew Collins Rating 3/5. Collins finds the sequel entertaining, though some elements rely too heavily on the original. He praises Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand for stealing the film with their broad comic performances. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-vzkgzp/meet-the-fockers/) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Rating 2/4. 22 December 2004. Schager finds the sequel intermittently funny but mostly flat and redundant. He praises Dustin Hoffman’s good-natured comic performance, while criticizing the film’s strained outrageous gags and Robert De Niro’s mugging. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/meet-the-fockers/) ## Empire — William Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The review finds the sequel a disappointing retread, with only occasional amusement. It praises Hoffman and Streisand for enlivening their roles but says the strong cast is largely wasted on underdeveloped comedy. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/meet-fockers-review/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 28 January 2005. Bradshaw finds the sequel tired and its comedy less effective than the original. He singles out Robert De Niro, whose performance keeps the film watchable. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_review/0,4267,1399831,00.html) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 21 December 2004. McCarthy finds the sequel fitfully funny but crude, and less amusing than the original. He singles out Dustin Hoffman’s energetic, mischievous performance as the film’s greatest source of spark. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2004/film/reviews/meet-the-fockers-2-1200528968/) ## The AV Club — Nathan Rabin Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 21 December 2004. Rabin pans the sequel as a lazy, mercenary retread that wastes its celebrated cast. He particularly criticizes the recycled humiliation-based comedy and escalating gross-out gags. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/meet-the-fockers-1798200356) ## Digital Spy — Daniel Saney Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 29 January 2005. The critic finds the sequel entertaining despite its lack of originality and overlong running time. They praise the sparkling performances, especially Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand, while noting that the humor becomes repetitive. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a18802/meet-the-fockers/) ## Eye for Film — Josh Morrall Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 30 January 2005. Morrall finds the sequel forgettable and unoriginal, though its performances keep it from being a disappointment. He especially praises Barbra Streisand’s relaxed, well-paced performance and Dustin Hoffman’s comedic moments. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/meet-the-fockers-film-review-by-josh-morrall) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/meet-the-fockers.md