There’s Something About Mary’’ is one of those movies that I heard a lot about but was able to shrug off. it was released on video.Afterwards, I realized waiting was my mistake.
When a prank involving a mentally retarded boy named Warren (W. Earl Brown) almost turns into a fight, Ted (Ben Stiller) steps in to help the disabled student. Warren’s sister Mary (Cameron Diaz) is very appreciative prompting her to ask him to prom. Ted is surprised, more like shocked, but he happily accepts the invitation. A disaster involving his ’’franks and beans’’ takes place though, and the date doesn’t occur. Ted never gets a chance to say goodbye as Mary’s family moves to Miami. Years later, Ted is in therapy realizing that he is still madly in love with Mary. He hires a private detective named Healy (Matt Dillon), to track her down, but Healy falls for her and soon moves to Florida to try and romance her. He tells Ted she is a disabled, overweight, mail-order bride, but when Ted finds out that isn’t true he and friend Dom (Chris Elliott) head to Miami to locate the love-of-his-life Mary.
This is a very funny movie with gags that work better than most moviemakers could. Directed by Bobby and Peter Farrelly they have put gross comedic situations on screen and actually made them humorous, something that a lot of comedies are forgetting to do.
The strength of ’’There’s Something About Mary’’ though, isn’t its comedy. The story is remarkably sweet. I literally was rooting for Ted at the end of the film, and there aren’t many movies I can say that about. Matt Dillon’s Healy is another strong character with the silly moustache and too-perfect teeth. Then, of course, there’s Diaz. Mary has been adored by so many people she should have had a huge ego, but she is so kind and genuine that she has her head on straighter than most people. This is a character you can’t help but like, and it becomes obvious that there really is something about Mary.
Watching the characters interact was fun, but often it seemed very real. The scene where Mary invites Ted to the prom is a perfect example, as the conversation seems like a conversation that could really take place with the familiar nervous awkwardness we’ve all felt. The Farrelly brothers along with screenwriter’s Ed Decter and John J. Strauss all deserve credit for this true-to-life dialogue.
’’There’s Something About Mary’’ is some of the most fun you can have watching a movie. It is two hours of comedy, great characters, some neat songs, and a truly charming story. It’s one of my favorite movies of all time and definitely my choice for best comedy film ever!!