De Niro calls Grande 'nice kid' after working on 'Focker-in-Law'

Robert De Niro offered effusive praise for Ariana Grande's performance and professionalism during a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, calling her a 'nice kid' and praising her ability to quickly grasp the process on set. The Academy Award winner emphasized that Grande was 'very professional' and 'terrific and very quick and got it all,' noting that she was 'very much part of the whole process.' This high praise, coming from a seasoned industry veteran, immediately signals a positive working dynamic and a strong performance foundation for the fourth installment of the Meet the Parents film series, 'Focker-in-Law.' The film, which hits theaters on November 25, features Grande dating Ben Stiller's character's son, played by Skyler Gisondo, while Stiller himself remains highly skeptical of her. De Niro reprises his role as Jack Byrnes, and his enthusiasm for Grande appears notably higher than his previous perceived skepticism toward Stiller in earlier films of the series.

De Niro's assessment of Grande's talent is not limited to the current project. He revealed that while he still hasn't seen her performance in the critically acclaimed film Wicked, he is actively planning to see it with his daughter, who is, of course, a fan. This anecdote underscores a personal, multi-layered connection to Grande's career trajectory, suggesting that his support is rooted in genuine admiration for her overall artistry, not just her role in the franchise. He also spoke about the general importance of set dynamics, stressing that 'it's really so important that everybody sort of gets it and jumps in quick, and the timing and the give-and-take is there.' This focus on collective professionalism and seamless execution is a key takeaway for any production aiming to manage a diverse cast of actors from different disciplines and schools of thought.

For context, the Meet the Parents franchise began with the original film released in 2000. The upcoming 'Focker-in-Law' serves as the fourth chapter, continuing the established comedic premise of navigating high-stakes family introductions. The plot, as teased in the trailer, involves De Niro's character, Jack Byrnes, and Grande's character, Olivia Jones, with the central conflict revolving around Stiller's deep distrust of Grande's romantic prospects. The trailer specifically shows De Niro testing Grande with his lie detector machine, a visual gag that heightens the tension and comedic stakes inherent in the franchise's premise. This reliance on established, recognizable comedic tropes is a calculated move to draw in the existing fanbase while simultaneously integrating a new generation of stars.

Beyond the film's immediate release, the source provided a broader look at Grande's current professional momentum.