There's Something About Mary (1998)
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83% of critics liked it
(82 reviews) -
59% of users liked it
(31,610,623 ratings)
The Farrelly Brothers set this romantic comedy in their home state of Rhode Island. In 1985, when teen-nerd Ted Stroehmann (Ben Stiller) challenges a high-schooler who's bullying retarded Warren Jenson (W. Earl Brown), his concern prompts Warren's sister, the dazzling and desirable Mary… More The Farrelly Brothers set this romantic comedy in their home state of Rhode Island. In 1985, when teen-nerd Ted Stroehmann (Ben Stiller) challenges a high-schooler who's bullying retarded Warren Jenson (W. Earl Brown), his concern prompts Warren's sister, the dazzling and desirable Mary Jenson (Cameron Diaz) to choose Ted as her senior prom date, a fact Ted's pals find hard to believe. However, on prom night, Ted gets his penis caught in his zipper, so the much-desired date never happens. Living in Providence and waxing nostalgic 13 years later, Ted hires Pat Healy (Matt Dillon) to locate Mary, and the creepy private investigator finds her in Miami, where she lives with her tan-shriveled roommate Magda (Lin Shaye). After Pat develops a stalker-style fixation on the lovely, unattached Mary, he lies to Ted, telling him that she's now an overweight mother confined to a wheelchair. Employing professional eavesdropping equipment, Pat gathers a dossier on Mary's life and future plans, information that forms the basis for more lies when Pat begins dating her. Sure enough, Mary falls for Pat, although her friend Tucker (Lee Evans) is very suspicious of Pat's claim to be a Harvard-educated architect. Meanwhile, Ted learns the truth but continues to encounter offbeat obstacles as he accelerates to Miami in hopes of finding happiness with his true love. Former Modern Lovers singer Jonathan Richman vocalizes a narrative ballad of onscreen commentary in the Cat Ballou (1965) tradition. Most of the cast sings and frolics to Build Me Up, Buttercup by The Foundations during the closing credits. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Directed By
- Bobby Farrelly
- Written By
- Edward Decter, John J. Strauss, Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly
- Genres
- Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jul 15, 1998 Wide
- Studio
- 20th Century Fox
Critic Reviews
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Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post
If the sight of a large chunk of a man's private parts caught in the teeth of a zipper is funny -- and I'm not saying it isn't -- then have I got a movie for you.
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Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
This one is dumbest. And funniest, as if that matters even a little bit!
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David Edelstein, Slate
Wrackingly funny.
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Todd McCarthy, Variety
Crudely made, somewhat overlong and larded with plenty of things that don't work, pic stands as proof positive that a comedy can be far from perfect and still hit the bull's-eye if it delivers when it counts in its big scenes.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Despite my earlier reservations about Bobby and Peter Farrelly, they're progressively winning me over, partly because they keep getting better.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Ben Stiller
as Ted Stroehmann
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Cameron Diaz
as Mary Jenson
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Matt Dillon
as Pat Healy
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Lee Evans
as Tucker
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Chris Elliott
as Dom
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Lin Shaye
as Magda
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Jeffrey Tambor
as Sully
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Markie Post
as Mary's Mom
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Keith David
as Mary's Stepfather
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W. Earl Brown
as Warren
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Jonathan Richman
as Jonathan
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Brett Favre
as Himself
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Willie Garson
as Bob
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Harland Williams
as Hitchhiker
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John-Eliot Jordan
as Buttercup Singer
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E. Danny Murphy
as Boss' Brother



