'Focker In-Law' trailer sees Ariana Grande meeting boyfriend's family but with a lie detector twist
The 'circle of trust' is officially back in business. At this year’s CinemaCon, Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro introduced the first trailer for ‘Focker In-Law’. It’s the latest chapter in the long-running ‘Meet the Parents’ franchise. Backed by Universal Pictures, the film is scheduled for a Thanksgiving release and will make its theatrical debut on November 27. Fans of the franchise will recognize plenty of familiar faces. Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, and Teri Polo are all returning to reprise their roles. The movie is also welcoming newcomers, including Ariana Grande and Beanie Feldstein. Stiller kicked things off solo as he took the stage at the recent event. As per The Hollywood Reporter, he joked about how long it took to get this sequel moving, saying the team had planned a “fully intentional 15-year break between movies 3 and 4.”
Then he tossed in a playful jab at himself, pointing out that he’s now about the same age De Niro was when the original film hit theaters back in 2000. “I guess you could say I’m the new De Niro of the franchise,” he stated. That line, unsurprisingly, saw De Niro come out to join him, and he didn’t let that comment slide. “Don’t say that. It’s very disrespectful,” De Niro shot back. “You made a very unflattering comparison that forced me to defend my honor.” The conversation soon shifted to Grande, who is playing a major role in shaking things up this time around alongside Skyler Gisondo. De Niro teased Stiller by bringing up her accolades. “She got an Oscar nomination,” De Niro told Stiller. “How many of those do you have?” Then, almost immediately, he added, “I didn’t write this.”
When the trailer was revealed, it wasted no time bringing back one of the franchise’s most memorable bits. It opens with De Niro’s character, Jack Byrnes, conducting a lie detector test on Grande’s character, Olivia Jones. It’s a direct nod to the original film, and it lands exactly how fans would hope. At one point, Greg Focker (Stiller), referring to his son, who is romantically involved with Olivia, nervously asks, “Do you think I hold Henry emotionally hostage?” The tension only builds when she drops a surprising detail during dinner, “People underestimate me, but actually I was an FBI hostage negotiator.” Things don’t exactly get smoother from there. When Greg finds out his son is planning to propose, he can’t help but question the decision, asking, “Are you sure she’s the one?”
The trailer also throws in some physical comedy, as the family goes on a bike ride, and everyone dresses in matching pink shirts. It looks wholesome for about two seconds, until Olivia takes a pretty rough fall. Behind the camera, John Hamburg is pulling double duty, writing and directing the film. He’s no stranger to the franchise, having worked on the screenplay for ‘Meet the Parents’ and its follow-ups. This time, the story centers on Skyler Gisondo, who plays Henry Furniker. His relationship with a woman who doesn’t quite fit the family’s expectations sets the stage for all the tension and comedy that follows.
