There's Something About Mary poster & wallpaper

W Earl Brown, Ben Stiller, Cameron Diaz

There's something about Mary that still bewitches Ted. Although he hasn't seen her in over a dozen years, since that shameful prom night, his heart still flutters at the recollection of her. He's stil...( read more  read more... )l crazy about her after all these years, and curious as to her whereabouts. At the insistence of his good friend Dom, he hires private eye Pat Healy to track her down in Miami. Wackiness ensues.

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59% liked it

31,610,623 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

80 critics

R, 120

Directed by: Bobby Farrelly

Release Date: July 15, 1998

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DVD Release Date: August 3, 1999

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Flixster Reviews (1,201,355)

  • magnum32004
    October 31, 2007
    magnum32004
    The modern-day godfather of gross-out comedies.
  • SirPant
    September 29, 2009
    SirPant
    This isn?t really my kind of film but I went to see it with a couple of old friends and we wet ourselves, so for that reason, it gets more stars from me! Happy days.
  • QueenCityFilms
    May 12, 2009
    QueenCityFilms
    Brett Favre in what might be the most important role for a professional football player in a movie since Dan Marino in Ace Venture. I mean, he's too sexy for the screen here, folks. This was a mistake - a flaw in the universe. And we were able to capture it during the 1990's....( read more) Sweet.
  • PvtCaboose91
    April 29, 2009
    PvtCaboose91
    "When I was 16 years old, I fell in love..."


    The directorial sibling duo of Bobby and Peter Farrelly earned themselves a revered place among the gurus of the comedy genre after unleashing There's Something About Mary upon the unsuspecting movie-going public of

    ...( read more) 1998. There's Something About Mary can best be described as an unalloyed exercise in gross-out humour and plain bad taste, punctuated by a surprisingly heartfelt screenplay and an intriguing plot designed to steer its characters from one gag to the next.


    Without a doubt, There's Something About Mary is the best film the Farrelly Brothers have created thus far in their filmic careers. This is a gigantic step up from prior Farrelly Brothers titterfests wherein a string of extraneous gags were supplied to conceal the lack of depth (and variety, for that matter). Perhaps the brothers had just grown up by this stage, or perhaps this was the consequence of the brothers collaborating with Ed Decter and John J. Strauss to pen the screenplay. Whatever the case, There's Something About Mary is endowed with a delightful wide appeal. For sure, it's gross-out comedy to extremes, but there is a heart and a believable, grounded storyline. A plethora of explosively hilarious set-pieces such as the prom night saga have taken their place in contemporary comic history. Yet, this sequence isn't a mere succession of unrelated gags. The building ridiculousness serves as a suitable introduction to the film's central premise: a well-meaning person inadvertently inviting chaos at every turn.


    "Franks and Beans! Franks and Beans!"


    Ted Stroehmann (Stiller) is a metal-mouth geek in his high school days in Rhode Island. It's the lead up to his Senior Prom, and Ted is seeking a date. Enter the beautiful Mary Jensen (Diaz) who asks the bewildered Ted to be her date for the prom. Ted is amazed and overjoyed, to say the least. But the prom night ends in tears when an unfortunate zipper accident leaves Ted in hospital. Thirteen years following this episode, Ted still pines for his lost Mary, whom he considers the love of his life. Ever since the end of school, though, Ted hasn't seen Mary at all - she's disappeared off the grid. With some encouragement from a friend, Ted opts to hire sleazy private eye Pat Healy (Dillon) to track down his old flame. However, after Pat takes one look at the radiant Mary, he decides he wants her for himself. Much conniving, back-stabbing and lying ensues in order to steal Mary's affections.


    The story is episodic, to be sure. It exists as a vehicle to convey masses of uproarious gags. Also, characterisation is at a minimum. However, some of the characters are satisfactorily developed through the gags. The aforementioned prom night saga establishes Ted's character, for instance. The jokes are frequently hilarious (rarely, if ever, hit and miss) and the characters are extremely endearing, and at the end of the day that's what counts in this genre. There's Something About Mary also offers something to offend almost everyone - it's politically incorrect (usage of the word "retard" is an example), outrageous, uncouth, bawdy and unapologetically lowbrow...truly nothing is out of bounds here. The true allure of the flick, however, is its sweet core - a quality the Farrelly Brothers have yet to replicate to the same effect. Some viewers may dismiss this flick as a simple gross-out comedy unworthy of a second glance, but the film's genuine charms extend beyond the repulsive jokes. Of course, it does rely on this humour heavily to entertain...nevertheless, There's Something About Mary remains an appealing romantic comedy that delivers a sweet payoff.


    "Is that... is that hair gel?"


    In all fairness, the Farrelly Brothers don't entirely depend on genitals, breasts, bodily fluids, or an assortment of other tasteless subjects to manufacture each joke. A group of travelling minstrels who follow Ted around, singing about his exploits in Greek chorus fashion, for instance, is a wonderful withdrawal from the lowbrow moments. This may not be subtle or intellectual humour (these two words simply don't apply to any Farrelly Brothers production), but it is less bawdy than their usual material. Similarly, the entire cast sing along to Build Me Up, Buttercup during the closing credits. There's Something About Mary additionally manages to be fairly light on emotion, yet distinctly memorable, which is a tribute to the strength of its brilliant comic structure. It wears its influences (from the Marx Brothers to Porky's) clearly on its sleeve, but is able to wrap them in a tight, original story where each joke serves a purpose.


    One reason why There's Something About Mary succeeds is on account of all the actors being utterly perfect for their chosen roles. With different casting, half the jokes would most certainly have fallen flat. Ben Stiller appears to understand comedy. His lines are delivered with impeccable comic timing, and he allows a viewer to sympathise with Ted while concurrently laughing at him. Getting one's dangly bits excruciatingly snared in a zipper is a fear faced by every male on the planet, but due to Stiller's fine acting we don't feel bad as we laugh at his agonising situation.
    The actors surrounding Stiller are top-notch. The vivacious and gorgeous Cameron Diaz is perfect as Mary. Not Oscar material, but she immerses herself into the character suitably and gives her character the required charm. This is proof that Cameron Diaz used to be hot. The Farrellys were so keen to cast Cameron that they delayed the filming start date in order to accommodate the film in her schedule. "Cameron is Mary," asserts Peter Farrelly. "Like Mary, Cameron seems like the ultimate woman. Every guy on the set was crazy about her."

    Matt Dillon is equally excellent. He manages to build great charm, but at the same time be contemptible in his methods. Dillon is perfect in tacky clothes and a seedy moustache.

    In the supporting cast there's Lin Shaye as the extremely tanned Magda, and Lee Evans as yet another man in love with Mary. Other performers, such as Chris Elliot and W. Earl Brown, are terrific. In a comedy flick such as this, actors of this calibre are required in order for the gags to work to their full potential. Thank God for this delightful bunch!


    "Have you seen my weiner?"


    There's no doubt about it, There's Something About Mary is one of the funniest comedies you'll ever encounter - a harmonious cocktail of over-the-top physical gags and raunchy humour. To be fair, though, the film is far from perfect. It runs a tad long at almost two hours, and (to be expected) a few of the characters aren't developed past the second dimension. This isn't Academy Award material, but it certainly achieves its evident goal: to entertain and deliver laughs aplenty. The fact that the geeky loser gets the girl - Mary predictably choosing Ted over the supposedly perfect Brett (real-life pro quarterback Brett Favre, a typical Farrelly casting) - makes this a curiously bloke-friendly rom-com. Adding to its unisex appeal (and therefore justifying its box-office success), There's Something About Mary is simultaneously one of the most romantic gross-out comedies, and one of the most gross romantic comedies. Laughter is such a blessed relief when one is in a bad mood, and this film is guaranteed to work as well as anti-depressants. After watching this hysterical gem, you'll never look at hair gel the same ever again.


    "His friends would say stop whining

    They've had an enough of that

    His friends would say stop pining

    There is other girls to look at

    They've tried to set'em up with Tiffany and Indigo


    But there's something about Mary that they don't know.


    Mary, there's just something about Mary."
  • ohagankieran
    April 5, 2009
    ohagankieran
    better than i thought
  • maryfesalera94
    November 20, 2009
    maryfesalera94
    yeah! that's my name..it was great!!!
  • parker351
    November 20, 2009
    parker351
    To much work on the story, the funny wears down quick.
  • SamiiRose
    November 20, 2009
    SamiiRose
    never seen it and i dnt wanna see.
  • megs0398
    November 20, 2009
    megs0398
    i like this film !!! xxx
  • armarege4utono
    November 20, 2009
    armarege4utono
    love this movie it had romance and comedy

View All There's Something About Mary Reviews

Critic Reviews

February 3, 2009
David Edelstein, Slate

Wrackingly funny. full review

April 25, 2003
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

You may also want to keep [a] washcloth handy, just to stifle those embarrassing aftershocks of laughter. full review

May 11, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Sensational, sicko fun -- you won't believe your eyes -- and just the thing to shake up the creeping conservatism that is draining the vulgar life out of pop culture. full review

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

What a blessed relief is laughter. full review

View more There's Something About Mary reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

  • jmourgos
    May 30, 2009
    jmourgos
    The gross-out parts, the zipper scene was painful, the others were funny. Not everyone will be inspired, many will be grossed or offended, but this is tame fare compared to current R rated comedies. Recommended.
  • michellefortuin
    April 20, 2009
    michellefortuin
    Just saw it for the hundredth time or something, and it's still fun. A recommend for everyone who likes comedies.
  • orridz
    April 15, 2009
    orridz
    even a rewind is posible
  • nathantayebwa
    September 27, 2008
    nathantayebwa
    Hmmm, need 2 c it.
  • carl0982003
    August 27, 2008
    carl0982003
    ITS really funny ..i love cam!
  • carl0982003
    August 27, 2008
    carl0982003
    ITS really funny ..i love cam!
  • mariefuller80
    August 26, 2008
    mariefuller80
    Non stop laughs all the way through.
  • perfectgentlemn
    July 20, 2008
    perfectgentlemn
    Dog electrocution scene? almost died laughing at that. Excellently funny movie... :-)
  • karroferpop
    July 6, 2008
    karroferpop
    hey.. this movie..is so great..and funny..i really enjoy it..nice actors..cameron is grat but no so much like ben stiler..he is really great..i love him..bye guys.
  • smilesvarun
    June 20, 2008
    smilesvarun
    hiiiiiii
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There's Something About Mary Trivia

  • in what movie does cameron diaz play mary  Answer »
  • in the movie, There's something about Mary, what did Mary's brother,Warren, kept calling Ted ever since the prom incident..?   Answer »
  • Which actress starred in these 3 films Theres Something about Mary Charlies Angels Charlies Angel2 Full throttle  Answer »
  • Which movie featured the characters Ted Stroehmann, Dom Woganowski, Mary Jensen Matthews?  Answer »
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