It's rude, it's crude, it's raunchy. Could anyone ask for more?

Rating: 9/10 (27 April 1999)

There's Something About Mary is the Farrelly brother's third effort. There first two movies, Dumb and Dumber and Kingpin, were among the most sophmoric, tasteless, movies I have ever seen. There were also two of the funniest. What made those movies so delightful was the absolute effort that was made to get us to laugh. As Mel Brooks has said about his movies, they "rise below vulgarity."
As funny as those two movies are, the Farrelly brothers have clearly stepped it up a notch with this film, which is most likely not the funniest film of all time, but definitely merits consideration. The film begins in the wonderful state of Rhode Island, and after a very inside joke about "Borrington," shows the first meeting between Ted (Ben Stiller) and Mary (Cameron Diaz). From the first meeting, that involves Mary's mentally challenged brother, we get the sense that sensitivity isn't a high value in this movie, and that laughter is.
Describing the rest of the plot is mostly pointless, although it does contain several delightful twists. The movie does not rely on its plot, but relies on a combination of high slapstick comedy and the ability to exploit the worst, darkest part of human nature, especially as contrasted to the unbelievably sweet and wholesome Mary.
These two elements as well as one incredibly funny misunderstanding (about serial killing of all things), have made this movie a true delight, and a purely fun ride into raunchy fantasy. Not that you don't need a thick skin to view this film. It pokes fun at a variety of sources, most disturbingly at people with mental retardation. However, it is clear the film revels much more in the stupidity of those people who tend to exploit people with mental retardation.
The film also contains the wonderful and humorous presence of one of the great rock n' roll musicians of all time, Jonathan Richman, who is all ham in this one. When all is said and done, no one is smarter, no one is a better person for seeing this film. It makes no great statements, it offers no insight into humanity. It is what it is: The funniest, most rip roaring laugh your a** off good time you will have at the movies, and if that isn't worth $8, then save the money and buy a better sense of humor.