Jay Roach, director of the two Austin Powers films, has more recently turned his hand to comedies about regular people. Blessed with a great script and excellent cast, he has produced an enjoyable comedy with some hilarious moments. The story is simple. Greg Focker (Stiller) is deeply in love with his girlfriend (Polo).

When the time comes to ask her to marry him he decides that the best thing to do would be to first meet her parents, and ask her father for her hand in marriage. Little does Greg know that his father-in-law-to-be is Jack (De Niro), isn't sure that Greg (or anyone) is good enough for his girl. It's going to be a long weekend.

Of course nothing goes right for Greg over the course of the weekend, as bad luck seems to follow him everywhere. This leads to some hilarious situations, in particular one of the funniest car races you're ever likely to see. But the strength the film is the underlying warmth that continues throughout. We know that Greg is truly in love, and just trying to do his best, so we feel for him every time something goes wrong. It's this warmth that truly pushes this film over the top.

A Saturday morning detention brings together representatives of different social groups((mdash))the geek, the jock, the alternative, the preppy, and the princess((mdash))who under the normal high-school code of conduct would not talk to each other. Despite pressure to conform to their social roles, some of them break out and treat each other like normal people. John Hughes's films define this decade for a lot of people, but back then school was hard enough without the threat of vampires, and attention was occasionally given to social issues other than sex and drugs.