Enjoyable comedy that really sparkles!

Rating: 8/10 (27 March 2000)

The movie starts with a song and ends with a song, and in-between, the song links the principal scenes. The film never falters with its great script, fast pace and excellent acting. Cameron Diaz really sparkles as the much sought-after Mary and Ben Stiller gives an amazing performance as the shy Ted. Matt Dillon plays the lying eaves-dropping investigator with all stops out! As a result, it turns out to be one of the best comedies of the year. A couple of scenes are very risque, but manage to keep just within the bounds of censorship. It's about a love-sick guy who seeks out a girl he knew 13 years before. She's moved to Florida so he has to engage a private investigator to seek out and stalk her. It so happens that the stalker falls for Mary, too. Two of the funniest scenes involve a family dog. In one scene the dog which has been over-dosed with a soporific drug has to be hurriedly resuscitated (a really farcical scene) and later, poor Ted is savagely attacked by the dog as it goes for his throat and other extremities. These are only two of the extremely funny situations which keep the laughter bursting forth. Ted is one of those unfortunate guys who always seem to be in trouble through no fault of their own, Whether the girl of his dreams chooses him in the end from amongst her various admirers cannot be divulged here. It can only be said that finally sincerity wins the day.