Don't expect "Mary"

Rating: 7/10 (8 March 2001)

At $165 Million, this film was number seven at the box office for 2000. Though it is funny in parts, as is often the case with blockbusters I am left scratching my head at its runaway popularity. Comparisons with `There's Something About Mary' are unavoidable. Ben Stiller plays the same kind of sincere but hapless character in each film and they both have a wry and offbeat presentation. However, the humor in this film is far more lowbrow than `Mary'. It is also highly predictable. The least perceptive of viewers can see the outcome of each gag a mile away.
I suppose there is an element of identification with the premise, since most people remember their own consternation at the big meeting with the parents of their beloved. Perhaps the appeal of the film is that we love to laugh at people who are more luckless than we are, and Greg (Ben Stiller) clearly has no equal when it comes to the bad luck he has in this film.
Ben Stiller is fast establishing himself as one of the most accomplished Sad Sacks in film today. He portrays characters with such sincerity and misfortune that you can't help but love him. In this film, he continues that tradition with an outstanding performance as Greg. Robert De Niro, who is a great dramatic actor, continues his recent trend away from serious drama and toward offbeat comedy roles (`Flawless', `Analyze This', `Rocky and Bullwinkle'). Although his very presence in films like this is comical due to its incongruity, he is not a particularly good comedian. I'm looking forward to seeing him in his latest film `Fifteen Minutes' which is a more serious dramatic role better suited to his enormous talent. I was very impressed with Teri Polo, who played Pam. She has genuineness and an affable nature that is well suited for romantic comedy.
This is a good comedy, but nowhere near as good as the box office would lead us to believe. I rated it a 7/10. It is a fun flick with absurdly exaggerated humor and numerous belly laughs, but don't expect it to be as good as `Mary'.