The Something About This Movie? Below Average and Predictable

Rating: 4/10 (17 January 2008)

I remember when this movie was released that it was considered to be a comedy cult classic. To many it still is. But my observations of the film show that the story lines and character developments leave "something" to be desired. The movie traces Ben Stiller's life beginning in high school as he plans to ask the popular girl of his dreams to the prom. Stiller's character is awkward and geeky. While getting ready for the prom, he gets his genitals caught in his zipper, and facing this ultimate embarrassment he is determined to seek her out to make amends for this humiliation.
He hires a sleazy private detective to help find Mary. He is madly obsessed with her, as is the detective along with all of their screwball friends. There are varies sophomoric antics and toilet humor jokes that may be funny if you want a typical teen screwball comedy. However, all of the actors are much too old for this sort of mindless drivel. There are a couple of haha jokes but nothing worthwhile or memorable. Why this film is so popular I do not understand. The moronic humor exists for sheer slapstick value. The 5th graders who bully the poor helpless outcast by putting a "kick me here" sign on his butt would be the type of people who would give this movie high reviews. That in a nutshell represents the humor of this film.
Because of the cruel edge to this film, feelings and relationships never develop. Stiller's relationship with Mary is bad margarine instead of quality butter. The writing is so juvenile and demeaning to relationships that by the end, nobody cares. Substance-wise, there is really "Nothing About Mary" to signify this movie as a quality film. Only see it if you like slapstick. Otherwise, "Mary" is a film to avoid.