Oct 19, 1999

A Look at... There’s Something About Mary - THE COMMENTARY

By Joseph Planta

Right after I reviewed the movie American Pie in early August, a reader (his name rhymes with Shame’s Wrong, for the wondering Tupperites.) disagreed with my stance on the picture. He said I was wrong and in his most Nostradamus-like state, predicted I would receive a great backlash from other readers on my utter dislike of the film. Now for those of you who haven’t read that review, I hated it because it tried to be like There’s Something About Mary and in the process failed. Failed miserably. The smug-ass also said I was wrong in my diagnosis, even though he hadn’t seen the picture himself. I have also, been criticized by the fact I like There’s Something About Mary, saying it shouldn’t be on my favourite movies list alongside Casablanca and Gone With The Wind. Well I could give damn about what that person thinks, and it’ll stay put. Unlike Trevor Lautens of The Vancouver Sun, I am not a prude and thought There’s Something About Mary was the funniest film of the decade.

There’s Something About Mary is chock full of hilarious laughs and it does it in a most unapologetic and crass way. Starring Cameron Diaz as Mary, the all-American girl to end all, all-American girls, is the most popular girl in her high school. She somehow asks out the resident geek, played with brilliance by Ben Stiller, to the prom. From there it goes downhill, and it’s a ride you don’t want to miss. Stiller gets his member caught in his zipper and the date fails. Some ten years later he’s set out to find her, and he gets caught up in a most humorous process. Looks like she’s turned into a perfect foil for every guy to want to fall in love with, and she doesn’t seem to know it.

What sets this film apart from American Pie, is that it goes full speed ahead in it’s stereotypes, and keeps a most ingenious pace to keeping the viewer entertained. It doesn’t give a damn who they offend, and offend they do. The Farrelly Brothers create a great picture, a film with a terrific energy and a terrific focal point for the film-going public.

In the end Stiller gets his girl, but to get to that ending, is a movie you cannot possibly miss. Rent it today, if you haven’t seen it, and if you have, rent it anyways. I’ve seen it 4 times, and I could watch it again. Shame’s, this is bad taste at its best, you my friend, are just wrong.

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An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .