Not the "funniest movie of the decade", but pretty close.
Story has Ben Stiller pining away for the babe-o-riffic Cameron Diaz ever since his prom nondate which was thirteen years ago. Stiller enlists a sleazy detective played by Matt Dillon, who is the real life Diaz squeeze, to find the superlooker. And since Matt discovers what a keeper she is (looks and personality) he decides to make a play for herself. Well, I'm shocked! Shocked I tell you.
Course the prom date sequence has been done to death in the trailer and the commercials, but there are still some nuggets left to laugh at for the first time. I also wish more of the dog sequence was not spoiled either from being adverted so much. You'll still howl, but not as loudly if it was fresh instead.
But not to worry, the "hair gel" sequence is a killer also, so you'll get your daily dose of guffaws. Guaranteed.
The movie rocks and rolls along with Stiller trying to prove himself to Diaz and Dillon attempting to beat Stiller to the punch. The ending has a slapdash quality to it, but the Brother Farrely, the tandem directors, had to wrap Mary up somehow.
Cameron Diaz deserves special credit for becoming an accomplished actress. For a model who accidentally fell into her first role by just happening to see a copy of the screenplay for The Mask, she has blossomed. The range of expressions and dead-on inflections that she brings to her roles means one day she will pull in an Oscar. Unlike other models who fail before motion picture cameras, Diaz has proven herself to be talented and up to the task. Which is unlike nearly any other model/actress I can think of.
Dillon, who started his career as another Brat Pack prettyboy, is up to the task of the sleaz-o detective. Seeing him sporting the big fake teeth and spouting his manipulative lines shows he's an actor who's not afraid to take chances with his roles. Stiller is his quirky self--not unlike his character from Reality Bites.
There's Something About Mary is a winner as long as you realize it's R-rated raunchy, side-splitting fun. You keep that in mind and you will be entertained. And oh, be sure and stick around for the credits.
Movie's suitability for: