Something about this seems off

Rating: 7/10 (29 March 2011)

The Farrelly Brothers always try to include at least one gross out scene in their movies. In There's Something About Mary the scene is when Ben Stiller is masturbating before his big date with Cameron Diaz. When Stiller finishes, he goes to the door only to find out the sperm is on his ear. Diaz mistakes it for hair gel, puts it in her hair, and that leads to one of many comical situations in There's Something About Mary.
While not all of the film is hilarious, many scenes to squeeze out a bad or a good laugh. Ben Stiller plays Ted Stroehmann who was a geeky braceface in High School who had a date with Mary (Diaz) for Senoir Prom. Because of an embarrassing accident Ted was unable to accompany Mary to that prom and has never seen her since.
Thirteen years later, Ted hires Pat (Dillon), a sleazeball private detective who falls head of heels when he finds Mary who now lives in Miami. Pat lies to Ted about Mary's life so he can have her all to herself. Ted believes something is up, and it becomes a game for Mary's love.
Cameron Diaz is one of my favorite female leads because she is one of the very actors/actresses that can go crazy without getting carried away. Unlike Jim Carrey who is so over the top and ridiculous he is unwatchable, but Diaz has smarts and clever wit behind her gags which makes her a joy to watch on screen.
There's Something About Mary is way more clever than Dumb and Dumber, but it still has things that bother me. Mainly the ridiculous and obnoxious scenes of Ben Stiller fighting with Mary's roommate's dog Puffy that goes on and on. Obviously the dog fighting is not real, but I've always felt squeamish, uncomfortable, and just upset by anytime of animal harm in films.
The scene is around three minutes in length, and it's unnecessary. I don't see the humor of a grown humor wrestling with a dog on a floor bending, squeezing, choking, strangling, and harming a defenseless dog. Major downfall in the quality just because of an unnecessary scene.
Besides the mean-spirited clip, There's Something About Mary not only charms in humor but it's characters are strong. Stiller and Dillon are a great on screen pair even though Dillon makes you hate his character the whole time he is on screen. Not to mention Chris Elliot is great as well. The true highlight is Cameron Diaz, but the whole cast is just perfect in their own right.
There's Something About Mary is a few points shy of being "the perfect comedy" film.
Starring: Ben Stiller, Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon, Chris Elliot, Lee Evans, and Lin Shaye. Directed by: Bobby and Peter Farrelly.