Over the years comic actors Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson have been a regular fixture on the big screen becoming one of the most popular and profitable double acts in a partnership that spans eight movies.The pair first worked together way back in 1996 on The Cable Guy, which was directed by Ben Stiller.wilson, prior to The Cable Guy, had launched his career in Wes Anderson's Bottle Rocket. Stiller was a fan of the movie and cast Wilson as Robin's date and so began their partnership.Permanent Midnight followed two years later but the film was a critical and commercial failure.Despite this set back the pair worked together again in 2000 making a name for themselves with Meet The Parents, but Wilson did take more of a back seat in the film.Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) is head over heels in love with his girlfriend Pam (Teri Polo), and is ready to pop the big question.
When his attempt to propose is thwarted by a phone call with the news that Pam's younger sister is getting married, Greg realizes that the key to Pam's hand in marriage lies with her formidable father, Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro).
A trip to New York for her sister's wedding seems just the right occasion for Greg to ask Pam to be his wife. But everything that could possibly go wrong, does.
Upon his arrival at the family's picturesque, Norman Rockwell-like home, Greg is greeted by what appears to be the picture-perfect family: a loving husband and wife with a doting son and two daughters and a beloved cat.
But for a guy who usually resorts to dry wit in stressful situations, Greg is suddenly shooting blanks with Jack, a retired horticulturist and rather imposing figure.
No one is good enough for Jack's first-born daughter, and the fact that Greg is a cat-hating male nurse with a vulgar-sounding last name is not helping things at all.
Meet the parents was a box office and critical hit, spending four weeks at number one in America. It went on to gross over $330 million at the global box office.
Their star continued to rise as they teamed up again in 2001 for fashion industry comedy Zoolander.
Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) isn't smart, but he looks "really, really good." An empty-headed yet kindhearted male model, the self-absorbed Derek becomes an unwitting pawn in a international assassination plot masterminded by oddball fashion dictator Jacobim Mugatu (Will Ferrell).
Meanwhile, the clueless cover guy must also contend with a new rival, a blonde hipster named Hansel (Owen Wilson).
Only adding to his troubles is Matilda Jeffries (Christine Taylor), an inquisitive and sensitive journalist.
However Zoolander's box office performance was hurt due to being released just two weeks after September 11. it did go on to earn a cult following and sold well when released in DVD.
Off beat picture The Royal Tenenbaums followed, a film which reunited Wilson with Wes Anderson.
The film featured an ensemble cast of Gene Hackman, Anjelica Houston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Bill Murray and Luke Wilson.
Hackman's performance won him a Golden Globe and Wilson and Anderson's script was nominated for an Oscar.
Buddy movie Starsky and Hutch was next for the pair in 2004.
Detective David Starsky (Ben Stiller) is the most dedicated undercover cop working the mean streets of Bay City, California. Maniacally devoted to his job, when he's on duty no crime goes unpunished - and he's always on duty. And that's a good thing, because he has some metaphorically big shoes to fill: his mother was a legend on the force, one of the best cops in the history of Bay City.
But while his mom stuck with the same partner throughout her entire career, due to his extremely zealous brand of police work, Starsky burns through partners faster than his beloved Gran Torino goes through spark plugs.
Detective Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson (Owen Wilson) is having career issues of his own - he's a good cop, but his hazardously laidback personality and desire for a quick buck don't always get the job done. He has excellent instincts, he just needs a little bit of focus to keep him on the admittedly less profitable side of the law.
Exasperated Bay City Police Captain Dobey (Fred Williamson) has found the perfect solution for two of his biggest problems: pair up Starsky and Hutch and put them out on the streets.
As soon as the two mismatched crime fighters unhappily begin their first day on the beat as a team, a "floater" turns up on the Bay City coastline.
With the help of Hutch's dynamite, street-savvy informant Huggy Bear (Snoop Dogg), the two begin to unravel the mysterious murder case.
Meet the Fockers was next but as with 2000's Meet the Parents Wilson took more of a backseat.
The pair's last collaboration came in Night At The Museum based on Milan Trenc's children's book.
Larry has lots of ideas and dreams, but none of them come to fruition. In an attempt to prove his stability to his ex-wife (Kim Raver) and his son, Nicky (Jake Cherry), Larry accepts a job as a night guard at the Museum of Natural History.
But the elderly night guards who hire him (played by entertainment legends Mickey Rooney, Dick Van Dyke, and Bill Cobbs) fail to mention one crucial detail: when the museum is closed, everything inside comes to life.
From Attila the Hun to miniature Roman soldiers, African mammals to Neanderthal men, and Egyptian mummies to dinosaur skeletons, the museum teems with lively activity.
Now it's Larry's job to control the mayhem and show his son that he is, indeed, a great man after all.
It was the best performance at the box office for the pair as the film went on to gross $573 million at the international box office.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
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