Embarrassingly good

Rating: 7/10 (11 June 2001)

We're all supposed to hate this kind of movie -- the bonehead comedy, combined with the whole lovelorn-losers shtick. And to be honest, I almost always do. But it was on TV last week. I fell into it during the first 10 minutes and stayed through the end, even though I had things to do. It's FUNNY. It's not a masterpiece or at all Oscarworthy, but it's more than just a check-your-brains popcorn flick. A few specific scenes stand out as memorably cute, most especially the way Doug (Chris Kattan) interrupts the wedding. Kattan's lines, mannerisms, and expressions are probably most of what elevates this film above the crap it could have been, but they're not the overdone mugging one sees in, for example, Jim Carrey (whom I can't tolerate, but who I understand co-wrote this film - hmm.). I think most everyone else's performances were enhanced by Kattan's presence.
Obviously nobody who hates the song "What is Love" should see this film. But for the rest of us, it really was a serviceable romp and I don't think I would've been upset if I'd paid money to see it in a theater.