The recent Focker-in-Law trailer launch witnessed a shift in conversation from the film itself to an unscripted moment between two of its biggest stars. What began as a lighthearted press event quickly turned candid when Robert De Niro addressed a statement that had clearly struck a nerve. The two-time Oscar winner responded to remarks from Ben Stiller earlier this week, objecting to a comparison he deemed “disrespectful.”
Robert De Niro is not happy after comparison with Ben Stiller
Robert De Niro made his displeasure clear after Ben Stiller drew a comparison between the two. He rejected the remark as “disrespectful” and distanced his own work and persona from the parallel. During Universal’s CinemaCon presentation on Wednesday, De Niro and Stiller appeared together to present the first trailer for Focker-in-Law, the latest chapter in the Meet the Parents franchise.
The film centers on Greg Focker (Stiller) meeting Olivia (Ariana Grande), who is dating his son Henry (Skyler Gisondo). The setup flips the dynamic. It puts the Zoolander actor in the wary, protective parent role. That’s the role De Niro’s Jack Byrnes held in the original movie.
Given the role reversal, Stiller quipped that he had become “the new sort of De Niro of the franchise.”
That prompted the Taxi Driver actor to join him on stage and push back. “Don’t say that,” De Niro said. “It’s very disrespectful.” The 82-year-old Hollywood veteran reminded the crowd he had done Goodfellas and Raging Bull long before Meet the Parents (via Entertainment Weekly).
Turning to Stiller, he asked, “What would you say is your Raging Bull?” “I dunno, Madagascar?” Stiller replied. De Niro asked, “Is that the one with the Minions?” After Stiller clarified that Madagascar doesn’t have Minions, De Niro shot back, “I prefer the Minions.” Later, he said that if anyone was the new De Niro, it was Grande and that Wicked gave him The Deer Hunter vibes. The Intern star further offered praise for Wicked’s box office success and Oscar nods.
Focker-in-Law hits theaters on November 25.
Originally reported by Sibanee Gogoi on Mandatory.
