There's Something About Mary

Rating: 8/10 (22 September 2005)

I used to think this wasn't all funny, but that was just because I couldn't remember any of it, besides the obvious scenes, and seeing it again, I can now see why people love it so much, from directing brothers Peter and Bobby Farrelly (Dumb and Dumber). The film starts with a flashback in high school, where awkward Ted Stroehmann (Ben Stiller) is going to senior prom with the beautiful Mary Jensen (Golden Globe nominated Cameron Diaz). They never got to the prom together because Ted had a very unusual accident of catching his nuts caught in his trouser zipper (ouch!), and 13 years later, Ted still can't stop thinking of the girl he lost the chance to be with. He hires private investigator Pat Healy (Matt Dillon) to track her down, but soon enough he is infatuated with her as well, and he gives Ted false information to keep him away from his new love interest. Ted soon finds out about Pat's lies, and manages to walk back into Mary's life and try to rekindle a relationship. Little known to Mary, her English friend Tucker (Lee Evans) is in fact a faker as well, his real name is Norman 'Norm' Phipps with a hillbilly accent and no need for crutches, and the same love the other two have. Oh, correction, that should be three, Dom Woganowski (Scary Movie 2's Chris Elliott) reveals his love for soon as well, and also he was the infamous ex-boyfriend "Woogie". In the end, Mary finds out all four of them feel something for her, and she must ultimately decide which one she likes most, and this is where (predictably) another ex-boyfriend walks in and reveals his love, it looks like she's gonna get back with him, but there is happy ending and audience satisfaction Mary picks Ted. Also starring Lin Shaye as Magda, Jeffrey Tambor as Sully, Markie Post as Sheila Jensen, Keith David as Charlie Jensen, Scream's W. Earl Brown as Warren Jensen and Dumb and Dumber's Harland Williams as Hitchhiker. The memorable and most hilarious moments for me are Dillon trying to revive the dog from being knocked out, Stiller's dog wrestle, Evans' traditional physical comedy (on crutches and with those accents), and the most well known image, Diaz mistaking Stiller's spunk for hair gel, and having the huge quiff in her hair (yikes!). It was nominated the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical. Cameron Diaz was number 65 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars, and she was number 26 on The 100 Greatest Sex Symbols, the film was number 27 on 100 Years, 100 Laughs, and it was number 9 on The 50 Greatest Comedy Films. Very good!