Big acting talent, unfortunately, doesn’t always transfer into quality entertainment. “Little Fockers,” the third installment in the popular comedy franchise, takes a once-fresh idea and smothers it to death.

After eight years, Robert De Niro still questions Ben Stiller’s position in the Byrnes Family Circle of Trust. He spends most of the film “watching” poor Gaylord Focker as he deals with a new house, a feisty work associate (Jessica Alba) and getting his kids into a posh private school.

The plot strands in “Little Fockers” are more frail than ever, with the titular kids only making token appearances. The remaining cast, including Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, Barbara Streisand and an overreaching Owen Wilson, can’t do much with their reduced roles. Worst of all, Dustin Hoffman, the saving grace of “Meet the Fockers,” only appears in 10 minutes of this outing.

There are occasional funny bits, most in which Stiller and De Niro manage to break through the lazy plot contrivances. The rest, however, is a deflated rehash of franchise greatest hits.