High Drama, Low Comedy

By Josh Tyrangiel; Dustin Hoffman; Barbra Streisand; Ben Monday, Dec. 06, 2004

The cast of "Meet the Fockers": Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Ben Stiller and Barbra Streisand

KWAKU ALSTON FOR TIME

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IN THE FIRST MOVIE, DE NIRO WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE UNCOMFORTABLE AROUND HIM. NOW THAT THE TWO OF YOU ARE FRIENDS, DID HE STILL TRY TO DISCOMFIT YOU?

STILLER: I don't know that for sure. I know that Dustin went out of his way to make sure that I felt uncomfortable by invading my personal space.

HOFFMAN: I believe that actors should play to actors, not to their characters. So in this movie, I'm trying to dramatize smothering a kid. The best way to do that is to smother Ben. Not the character. Now Ben is a really warm, generous person, but he doesn't like his space invaded. So I just felt that I was going to jump on him and kiss him a lot.

STILLER: It felt very real.

HOFFMAN: If he were a girl who said, "I really don't want to get past first base," I made sure I got to second. Sing us a song! Right now, Barbra.

STREISAND: How much money have you got on you?