Jon Monsarrat review: a top comedy of all time

Rating: 7/10 (24 May 2004)

There's something wacky about this film that truly hilarious. Together with "The Ref", "Bowfinger", and "My Cousin Vinnie", this film is perhaps the best comedy of all time. The timing is right on, and there's a real plot. I read the autobiography of Chuck Jones, the creator of Bugs Bunny, who said that for comedy you need the protagonist to be a straight man and the world is wacky around him. Otherwise, if the protagonist is the weirdo, it's farce, and for some reason comedy works and farce doesn't. There's Something About Mary gets that balance right, but the weirdness doesn't consume the film so that the plot no longer matters. We can still identify with the characters. Matt Dillon is especially good.
Who should see this film:
-- Everyone, and it's safe for kids, too
I'll give There's Something about Mary a near-perfect 9 out of 10.