Home/Episodes/Meet the Parents
‘Meet the Parents’ With Bill Simmons and Kyle Brandt
November 12, 2024 · Meet the Parents (2000) · Comedy · Romance · 1:53:18 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsDiscusses Stiller's career trajectory and rise to becoming 'first call' for movies by mid-2000s, but doesn't definitively state if this is his apex▶ 18:25
Kyle BrandtMeet the Parents — Meet the Parents is Ben Stiller's apex mountain - his best performance playing himself, slightly better than There's Something About Mary▶ 17:47
Dion Waiters Award
Kyle BrandtBen Stiller — Ben Stiller in early appearances like Happy Gilmore and The Cable Guy before he became a leading man▶ 19:29
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsThe dinner scene, which includes Greg saying grace, the urn revelation, the poem 'My Mother by Jack Burns', and 'I have nipples Greg, could you milk me?'▶ 33:16
Kyle BrandtThe car ride with De Niro and Stiller - the Puff the Magic Dragon scene with 'Are you a pothead fucker?'▶ 31:47
What's Aged the Best
Bill SimmonsStuffed bear nanny cameras - seemed state-of-the-art in 2000 but now exist everywhere, making it prescient about modern surveillance fears▶ 44:52
Kyle BrandtThe concept that Greg's terrible decision-making makes the movie more rewatchable - his idiotic choices throughout the film enhance the viewing experience▶ 48:18
Den of Thieves Benihana Award
Kyle BrandtMentions the restaurant with live band and pay phones but concludes this isn't a location type movie and they don't have one▶ 52:16
Big Kahuna Burger Award
Bill SimmonsEither the pupusas scene with Blythe Danner serving what look like pigs in the blanket, or the pot roast - suggests Kyle should pick between them▶ 52:35
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsGwyneth Paltrow — Presents various casting alternatives: Jim Carrey as Fokker with Spielberg directing and Al Pacino as dad wouldn't work as well; Naomi Watts was initially cast as Pam but dropped; Christopher Walken as backup for Jack Burns; suggests Gwyneth Paltrow would have been perfect as Pam▶ 1:10:16
Kyle BrandtGwyneth Paltrow — Agrees Stiller was better choice than Carrey for awkward humor; suggests Brad Pitt as Kevin would work; strongly endorses Gwyneth Paltrow as Pam casting ('It's fucking sitting right there')▶ 1:11:32
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsMultiple trivia facts including: De Niro came up with polygraph testing idea, Nicole DeHuff (sister character) died tragically at 30, Jim Carrey created Focker surname, De Niro loved Mr. Jinx cat and added scenes, MPAA required real Fokker surname person, movie inspired Litter Quitter product▶ 1:22:40
Kyle Brandt2020 COVID reunion interview where De Niro was completely unengaged and unhelpful, claiming he didn't remember scenes or the cat, contrasted with other cast members trying to carry the conversation▶ 1:23:41
Hanks or Cruise
Bill SimmonsTom Hanks — Hanks - says it's more of a Hanks part, he was good at these roles in the 80s, though admits Cruise would be funnier▶ 1:35:04
Kyle BrandtTom Hanks — Hanks - agrees it has to be Hanks, citing that Cruise would be weird due to Top Gun dialogue references in the movie▶ 1:35:40
Just One Oscar
Kyle BrandtRobert De Niro — Agrees with De Niro but advocates for a broader Best Comedy category that the movie should win▶ 1:42:43
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsMultiple questions: Did De Niro's stuff lead to Simply Safe creation (yes, probably); Who would name their kid Gaylord Fokker; Did this movie destroy the future of male nursing; Why didn't they make this a Christmas movie▶ 1:43:34
Craig HorlbeckWhy didn't Jack smoke cigarettes given he's a Vietnam vet/CIA guy who's seen stuff; Why didn't they make this a Christmas/holiday movie given the aesthetic - it would get replayed constantly▶ 1:43:53
Kyle BrandtMultiple observations: Gaylord must be a junior/generational name; What other questions would Jack ask in the lie detector scene beyond pornography; Movie should have been called 'Merry Fokking Christmas' for a fourth installment▶ 1:44:16
Who Won the Movie
Kyle BrandtBen Stiller — Considered Owen Wilson but ultimately said he'd give it to Stiller, though acknowledged De Niro was perfect▶ 1:48:34
Movies Referenced (54)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Booth (2002) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt, Craig Horlbeck | ▶ 1:04:47 |
| Goodfellas (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 23:10 |
| Analyze This (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 22:06 |
| Carrie (1976) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:11:24 |
| Meet the Fockers (2004) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Craig Horlbeck | ▶ 16:02 |
| Midnight Run (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 21:56 |
| Raging Bull (1980) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:17:04 |
| Taxi Driver (1976) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Kyle Brandt | ▶ 23:39 |
| Wicked (2024) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Craig Horlbeck | ▶ 1:50:01 |
| Dumb and Dumber (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 40:05 |
| Fargo (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Craig Horlbeck, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:05:40 |
| Look Who's Talking (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 28:04 |
Directors Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jay Roach | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt, Craig Horlbeck | Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery | ▶ 16:13 |
| Steven Soderbergh | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:10:18 | |
| Tony Scott | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Unstoppable, True Romance | ▶ 1:17:28 |
Actors Referenced (65)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert De Niro | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 61 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt, Craig Horlbeck | Cape Fear, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver | ▶ 2:30 |
| Ben Stiller | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 33 | Kyle Brandt, Bill Simmons, Craig Horlbeck | Tropic Thunder, Zoolander | ▶ 2:31 |
| James Rebhorn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 17 | Kyle Brandt, Bill Simmons | Independence Day, The Game, The Talented Mr. Ripley | ▶ 38:56 |
| Owen Wilson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Kyle Brandt, Bill Simmons | The Royal Tenenbaums, Wedding Crashers | ▶ 38:18 |
| Jim Carrey | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Bruce Almighty, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind | ▶ 19:46 |
| Blythe Danner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Kyle Brandt, Bill Simmons | Meet the Parents | ▶ 10:25 |
| Luke Wilson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons | Old School, The Royal Tenenbaums | ▶ 37:17 |
| Al Pacino | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | Dog Day Afternoon, The Godfather | ▶ 1:10:35 |
| Philip Baker Hall | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | Magnolia, Boogie Nights | ▶ 1:19:55 |
| Phyllis George | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Kyle Brandt, Bill Simmons | Meet the Parents | ▶ 1:14:09 |
| Tom Collins | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Kyle Brandt | ▶ 53:39 | |
| Mike Myers | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Kyle Brandt, Bill Simmons | Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery | ▶ 20:56 |
Writers Referenced (4)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Hamburg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Little Fockers | ▶ 24:47 |
| Julie Siege | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Kyle Brandt | ▶ 8:58 | |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 28:55 | |
| Tom McCarthy | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:17:45 |
Cinematographers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Siemens | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 37:29 | |
| Michael Grantland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Other Guys | ▶ 1:42:56 |