BrianKoller's Full Review: There's Something About Mary
Bobby and Peter Farrelly directed, co-wrote, and executive produced this highly successful slapstick comedy. The Farrelly brothers continued their winning streak, which began with "Dumb & Dumber" and "Kingpin". The
comedy, once again, is low and lower, but there's something about the direction, gags and jokes. Something obvious: they're nearly as funny as they are outrageous.
The film begins with a flashback to 1985.
Ted (Ben Stiller) is a schmuck who lands
a prom date with friendly beauty Mary
(Cameron Diaz). Although the relationship
comes to a painful end, Ted still longs
for her thirteen years later.
He hires Healy (Matt Dillon), a sleazy
private detective, to find out where she
is. But Healy not only finds her, but
falls for her, and the creep cons his way
into her life. Ted has further competition
for his still-single Mary, from eternal
spazz Chris Elliot and 'handicapped'
Lee Evans to a mystery suitor named Brett
(would I reveal who he is?)
It's easy to see why men pine for Mary,
who is set up as the perfect woman. Young,
beautiful, well employed as an orthopedic
surgeon, single, friendly, funny and a jock,
she can be improved only by inheriting an
estate. But the men in her life are more
or less pathetic, none more so than her
disturbed, retarded brother whose fits of
violence are milked for laughs without
shame. Which, perhaps, is exactly how
it should be.
Matt Dillon is particularly funny as the
detective whose surveillance ability
exceeds his talent as a con artist.
His scenes with a wiry mutt are the best
in the movie. Also hilarious is Mary's
unlikely best friend Magda (Lin Shaye).
Before we get too congratulatory, it must
be noted that the film far from perfect.
Mary is an unlikely character to be a
practicing surgeon. Elliot overacts,
and his rash isn't funny. Sometimes the
movie confuses gross with funny, such as
Magda's repeated sloppy kisses with the
mutt. Not even Ted is dork enough to
hire Healy, or take advice from Elliot.
There's a police interrogation scene
that seems lifted from "My Cousin Vinny".
Alt-rocker Jonathan Richman (any Modern
Lovers fans out there?) appears now and
then as a minstrel. (61/100)
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