Christmas with the Kids from Little Fockers (and Giveaway)

I recently attended a press junket for the new Universal Movie Little Fockers. I have to be honest, Meet the Parents is one of my guilty pleasures. It’s a little crude, but I loved the plot and it makes my husband and me laugh. When we saw Meet the Fockers the first time, I thought it went a little more crude and had a little less plot, and I genuinely wondered which way Little Fockers would go.

I have to say that I honestly believe it lives up to the legacy of Meet the Parents. What married couple doesn’t have issues with their parents’ involvement — specifically with their parents’ thoughts and influences on their kids?

It has taken 10 years, two little Fockers with wife Pam (Polo) and countless hurdles for Greg to finally get “in” with his tightly wound father-in-law, Jack. After the cash-strapped dad takes a job moonlighting for a drug company, however, Jack’s suspicions about his favorite male nurse come roaring back.

When Greg and Pam’s entire clan—including Pam’s lovelorn ex, Kevin (Owen Wilson)—descends for the twins’ birthday party, Greg must prove to the skeptical Jack that he’s fully capable as the man of the house. But with all the misunderstandings, spying and covert missions, will Greg pass Jack’s final test and become the family’s next patriarch…or will the circle of trust be broken for good?

Stay tuned this week for interviews with the beautiful celeb mom Jessica Alba, who joined the cast for this third movie, as well as Blythe Danner, mom and grandma in the film and in real life. Today I want to introduce the actual actors who play the little Fockers in the movie — Colin Baiocchi and Daisy Tahan.

We sat down with them for about half an hour, and watching them it was clear that they are 100% actors and 100% kids.

They are actors because they are not just on screen acting like themselves. Eight-year-old Daisy was a real professional, sitting up straight and answering her questions with tact and poise. In the film, her character Samantha is a little more of a stinker than that, being embroiled in a stand-off with her dad. But she also shared her very kidlike interests with us: animals,

Seven-year-old Colin was a firecracker. He was 100% precocious wild child (and I know this type, because I have a 6-year-old just like him at home). But he was obviously a great actor as well, because his character Henry lives in the shadow of his twin sister.

They shared their advice to other kids who might want to go into acting:

“I would really say just don’t be shy to meet new people and always try your best” (Colin) and “I would say always be nice to the people on the set and just do great” (Daisy).

But when the talk moved to what they wanted for Christmas, they became 100% kid. Daisy is ambitiously hoping for a mini-Vespa, while Colin’s list probably looks like most of your sons’ lists, with specific Ben 10 Alien and Bioncle items first on his mind.

They also shared some insider secrets about working on the film, including their favorite part (the food services table), and working with a real lizard and his stand-in “Stiffy.” And can you guess which actor/actress kept them laughing? And does a pitch-perfect Elmo impression?

I was happy to connect with the kids in the film, because Christmas is all about kids, and this movie is all about family (the good, the bad, the ugly — and the funny!).

I am happy not only to be able to give you an insider’s look at some of the actors in the film, but also to host a giveaway of a $50 Fandango card (good at participating theaters) to see Little Fockers, or whatever you might like to see. We also have some fun Little Fockers branded movie promo items, like t-shirt, hat, umbrella, snuggly throw (items may vary). This is open to U.S. shipping addresses only.

Leave a comment if you’d like to enter. We’ll announce the winners on January 8.

Little Fockers is in theaters December 22.

Check out my other interviews with Jessica Alba and Blythe Danner.

**Disclosure: Universal Studios invited me to attend the junket and paid for some of my lodging expenses, and I was asked to share the interviews with the readers. My opinions are my own.

Tagged as: child actors, Fandango, Little Fockers

Email Author    |    Website About Jennifer D.

Jennifer Donovan has been a part of the 5 Minutes for Mom team since 2007. She writes product reviews, covers events, and manages the 5 Minutes for Books weekly column and website. She lives in Houston and blogs at Snapshot about life with her family.

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