The fun comedy franchise Meet the Parents 4, officially titled Focker-in-Law, is coming to theaters on November 26, and our town of Mamaroneck is a part of it. Miller’s Toy Store on Mamaroneck Avenue was featured in a scene of the movie, and throughout a ten day period, cast members, decorators, production crew, and many others were hard at work for the short scene in the movie.
Focker-in-Law is set to premiere over two decades after the original Meet the Parents, but is expected to be just as hilarious. It features returning stars Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro, as well as new cast member Ariana Grande.
Taka Andrews, the owner of Miller’s Toy Store, shared his opinion on what it was like to learn about the film-making process. He said, “it was an interesting experience to be a fly on the wall, so to speak. We were all very impressed with the nature of the work, how busy a location it was, and how many people are involved in the great efforts they go to make a location and set decoration completely perfect, very ornate, and incredibly detailed for essentially a 10 minute scene in the movie.”
When asked if he would be open to having more films shot at his store in the future, he responded, “Yes. Not right away, as it was a massive effort and incredibly exhausting, but I think it was very good for Mamaroneck. Everyone in the community was very interested.”
Being chosen for a scene in a movie is no easy feat. The film industry has special staff called location scout photographers. They go into stores, restaurants or other places that they think have potential for a movie shooting. Andrews mentioned, “… a handful of times a year we get people who come in and ask to take pictures and we always say yes, but oftentimes nothing comes of it.” This time though, something did come of it as somebody came back to continue the process. The process went on for a very long time, as more executives, directors, and film crew came to visit the store before finally deciding on it as a location for the movie.
When Focker-In-Law releases in 2026, it will not only be the return of the hilarious movie series, but it will also include a glimpse into a local store, right here in Mamaroneck. For the MHS community, this film will be not only enjoyable, but also memorable, as it will feel particularly close to home.