As far as living Hollywood legends go, it doesn’t get any bigger than Dustin Hoffman or Robert DeNiro. They’ve been perennial Oscar contenders for over three decades, and boast extensive filmo-graphies teeming with the stuff cinephile dreams are made of. Hoffman’s credits include “The Graduate,” “Midnight Cowboy, and “Rain Man.” DeNiro’s done “The Godfather: Part II,” “Taxi Driver” and “Raging Bull.” Though perhaps best known for their dramatic roles, both actors are top-notch comedic performers as well. They generate plenty of laughter in the much-anticipated new comedy “Meet the Fockers,” and took time out recently to discuss it.
What’s so hilarious about parenting? DUSTIN HOFFMAN: Because you can’t win. No matter how hard you try — we all try to do better than our parents did, and you can’t win. Part of that is that the DNA of the kid makes them want to leave the nest. So sometimes the better the parent you are, the more they invent reasons to (make you out to be) a crappy parent. So there’s comedy in the tension.
ROBERT DeNIRO: Yeah, you can’t win. I think that’s a good way to put it.
Was the “Fockers” set a fun one? DH: They’re never fun, because you’re always thinking that it’s not going to work. It’s a gamble making a movie. Something like 400 movies (are made) in America every year, and how many of them are any good? So you know you’re going in as a long shot. I think one of the commonalties we had on set was that we all ran scared. We’re all humbled by the knowledge that we could fail.
What was it like working with Barbara Streisand? DH: Terrible (laughs).
RD: He plays her husband, so he should know. Nah, it was fine. Barbara’s very good. We had a good time.
Robert, this is your second go-round with (director) Jay Roach. What was the experience like this time?
RD: He was very considerate and sensitive to everybody’s, uh — whatever you want to call it — way of working. He suffered for all our sins. He tried to be very diplomatic, and he did a very good job.
DH: He was indefatigable. I think there was a point, three-quarters through making the movie, that he just collapsed. I think he went to the hospital. His body just gave out. I’ve never seen anyone work that hard.
So we’ve covered Barbara and Jay, tell us about working with each other.
DH: This is our fourth time working together, and we’ve never liked working together. We’re masochistic.
RD: The fourth time, is it? DH: Isn’t it the fourth? RD: “Wag the Dog.” DH: “Sleepers.” OK, third time... there won’t be a fourth time (laughs).
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 24, 2004. Read the original PDF.