By TeeJay Small
| Updated 30 seconds ago

If you’ve got your finger on the pulse of the latest comedy outings, you’ve probably already seen trailers for Focker-In-Law. The film, which stars Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, and Ariana Grande, is the fourth entrant into the Meet The Parents franchise, which launched all the way back in the year 2000. The original Meet The Parents is an iconic comedy which still holds up to this day, and the 2004 follow-up Meet The Fockers is a fun, quirky film that has some solid moments. 

Unfortunately, the fun sort of stopped in 2010 when Stiller and De Niro reunited for a third time with Little Fockers. This movie is a pale replica of its predecessors, offering little more than a tepid retread of jokes that were funnier the first time around. Despite the film being a bit of a slog, and Ben Stiller literally assuring fans that they don’t need to rewatch the trilogy to understand the upcoming sequel (he even claims that he doesn’t stand by the third film, per X), I decided to revisit Little Fockers on Netflix.

Move Along, Nothing To See Here!

I recall catching Little Fockers in theaters with my family upon release, and thinking little of it. In the years since, I’ve basically forgotten the entire plot, other than the fact that Gaylord ‘Greg’ Focker (Stiller) and his wife Pam now have children. In the movie, the Fockers are preparing a fifth birthday bash for their twins, when De Niro’s domineering Jack Byrnes drops in for a surprise visit.

Operating in his capacity as a hard-ass father-in-law, as well as a CIA retiree, Jack continually gives Greg a hard time. Jack has never approved of Greg, though extenuating circumstances have forced his hand in anointing him the new family patriarch and the arbiter of the coveted “circle of trust.” This is set in motion because Jack’s other daughter is in the process of getting a divorce, thus ousting the son-in-law that Jack actually enjoys.

Unfortunately, this passing of the torch is interrupted by a series of contrived, awkward situations that mistakenly lead Jack and others to believe Greg is unfaithful. If the plot sounds bare bones, that’s because it exists primarily to be a joke delivery system. If the jokes sound bare bones, it’s because the writers didn’t care about this movie at all when they were working on it.

Disappointing Lack Of Little Fockers

The primary source of comedy in this film stems from the fact that Focker sounds a lot like the F-bomb. If that joke blows your mind, you’ll probably be rolling on the floor by the time the film cuts to credits. If not, you’ll probably be half asleep by the fifth time Robert De Niro drops terms like “The god-Focker” and pauses for raucous applause. There are a few solid comedic beats on occasion, but it really feels like the script could have benefited from an extra draft or two.

If this film has anything going for it, it’s the stacked cast of side characters. Notable performers include Owen Wilson, Dustin Hoffman, Barbara Streisand, and Jessica Alba, but numerous top-notch comedians appear in small bit parts as well. Kevin Hart, Rob Huebel, John DiMaggio, Jordan Peele, and Nick Kroll comprise a few faces that wouldn’t have stood out in 2010, but make for a real DiCaprio-pointing-at-the-TV moment today.

At the end of the day, Little Fockers really doesn’t hold up. As it turns out, that Ben Stiller tweet and the 10 percent Rotten Tomatoes score really weren’t lying to me. This is a minor gripe, but I take umbrage with the fact that the movie doesn’t even focus on the kids all that much. For a film literally titled Little Fockers, I’d expect to see more of those little Fockers running around.

I guess I’m happy that I panned for any flecks of comedy gold within this sludge, if only to ensure that I won’t miss a beat when I queue up to see this comedic team remake the same comedy for the fourth time this November. Even still, you’d be better off brushing up on the first two films and letting your imagination fill in the blanks if and when you watch Focker-In-Law. At least Ariana Grande’s front-and-center billing on the poster implies that the new film will actually deliver on its title.

Little Fockers is currently streaming on Netflix, just in case you’re not willing to take my word for it. The first two films are on there as well, for those interested in turning a trilogy watch-through into a drinking game. Take a shot every time you hear De Niro drop Greg’s name in a silly way, and call it “getting Focked up.”

By Steven Nelson
| Published 1 hour ago

Delving into the shadowy world of online identity, Cam made waves on Netflix in 2018 as a psychological horror thriller that fuses modern technology’s allure with the age-old dangers of doppelgangers and obsession. 

Directed by Daniel Goldhaber, with a script by former webcam model Isa Mazzei, the movie taps into the eerie facets of the digital age, offering a chilling look at how easily our online personas can be ripped from our control.

For those seeking a heart-pounding ride that also pushes them to reflect on the implications of life in a digitized world, Cam beckons with its siren call. Dive into a tale where the line between reality and the virtual realm blurs with every click.

Cam Girls Gonna Cam

Set in the competitive world of cam girls, Cam introduces us to Alice, known online as “Lola.” Portrayed by Madeline Brewer, Alice is an ambitious cam girl seeking to break into the top ranks on her streaming platform, FreeGirlsLive. Every day, she stages creative shows, some intense and others downright bizarre, to climb the leaderboard, pushing the boundaries of her performances to attract more viewers and tips.

However, her relentless pursuit to rank higher takes a nightmarish turn when she unexpectedly finds herself locked out of her account. That’s puzzling enough, but the real shock comes when she realizes “Lola” is still online, streaming away. Only, it isn’t Alice behind Lola’s sessions anymore. A mysterious doppelganger, identical in appearance and mirroring her previous shows perfectly, has taken over her channel.

Desperate to reclaim her identity, Alice dives deep into the underworld of the camming industry. She encounters other models, shady figures, and obsessive fans as she tries to uncover the truth behind her digital twin.

Throughout her journey, Cam intelligently weaves themes of identity theft, the personal cost of online fame, and the dangers of exposing oneself in the vast, anonymous terrain of the internet.

Supporting Alice’s story is an array of characters, including her mother, Lynne (Melora Walters), and younger brother, Jordan (Devin Druid). There’s also Tinker (Patch Darragh), an obsessed fan who might know more than he lets on. Together, these characters enhance the layered narrative of Cam, reflecting different facets of Alice’s life as it spirals out of control.

Cam Started As An Idea For A Documentary

The intriguing narrative of Cam finds its origins not in the realm of fiction, but from real-life experiences. Before it was a psychological thriller, the idea for the film emerged from the actual experiences of its screenwriter, Isa Mazzei.

Mazzei herself was a former cam girl and initially considered making a documentary about the world of online camming based on her personal experiences. The realm of camming, with its blurred lines between the digital and the real, personal and public, seemed ripe for exploration.

The industry’s nuances, combined with its vast audience yet marginal mainstream understanding, made it a subject of potential intrigue for viewers.

However, as Mazzei collaborated with director Daniel Goldhaber (a close friend from college), the duo felt that a fictional narrative could dive deeper into the emotional and psychological experiences of a cam girl, particularly the dissociation and identity challenges one might face. 

By shifting gears from a documentary to a thriller, they hoped to capture a broader audience and convey the complexities and perils of the camming world more viscerally. This decision gave birth to Cam, a movie that, while fictional, carries the genuine imprint of Mazzei’s lived experiences, adding an extra layer of authenticity to its story.

Cam is more than just a standard psychological thriller; it’s a riveting exploration of identity, digital duality, and the lengths one might go to reclaim a stolen life in the age of the internet. While some might brush it off as another by-the-numbers suspense flick, the film is a testament to the very real challenges and threats that individuals face in the online world.

Drawing inspiration from real-life experiences, it serves as a cautionary tale, reminding viewers of the fragile balance between our digital personas and our real selves.  If you’re in the mood for a film that seamlessly blends suspense with societal reflection, you can stream Cam for free on director Daniel Goldhaber’s website for free as of this writing.

Was WWDC 2026 a turning point for Apple leadership?