Back in his school days Ted was not what you would call good looking or popular, he was a walking disaster. Some how he managed to catch the eye of Mary, who agreed to go to the prom with him.
He went to her house to pick her up but disaster struck, and he ended up in an ambulance instead of going to the prom. Ted never saw Mary again after that.
Until one day he reminised back to his younger years and really wanted to find Mary as he had never forgotten her. So he decided to hire a private detective Pat. He did manage to track Mary down, and even after Pat tried to put Ted off he still went to see her.
This is where the love story unfold, Mary has many admirers who try dirty tactics to get her to go out with them. Who will end up with Mary? They all seem to think there is something about Mary. This really is a classic love story with a lot of comedy.
Storyline score 9/10
Main cast and acting ------------------------------
Cameron Diaz as Mary Jensen - I have always liked Cameron in most films I have seen her in, and this was no exception. Mary is so naïve to how good looking she is, and how many admirers she has, she seems very blind to it all. Her main person in her life is her brother, who has mental disabilities. She cares for her brother, and any man has to accept this. Cameron plays the part really well, she plays Mary in the way that it should be played, and makes the film very fun to watch. They could not have chosen a better actress that could play this part that well.
Character score 10/10
Ben Stiller as Ted Stroehmann - Ted is the first one out of the characters to ever date Mary, even though at that time everything went wrong, he was very clumsy and a bit dim. In his adult life this still has not changed. He has to fight with the others now to win over Mary's heart, but can he really do it. Ted really has a heart of gold. Ben plays this part exceptionally well. Ben makes the humour in the film, his character is just so funny, and the way he plays it makes it seem more hilarious. They really could not have picked a better actor for this role, hes a great actor and can play a part with humour and make it more humourous.
Character score 10/10
Matt Dillon as Pat Healy - Pat is the private detective hired by Ted, he plays a very devious part in this film, and ends up wanting Mary all to himself. He tries to con his way into Mary's heart. Matt plays this part really well, and he fits right in with the role he is playing. Matt is a great actor, and he does not disappoint yet again. He is so smooth, yet so devious, even though he is very devious it is hard not to like him and laugh at him. I thought it was a very well played part.
Character score 9/10
Lee Evans as Tucker / Norman Phipps - Well we all know Lee Evans as a comedian, but I was not sure how well he would do in a film with top actors. I was pleasantly surprised. Tucker was one of the guys who also tricked Mary into liking them, hoping that something more would develop. Lee played this part pretty well, but I did not reckon much to his character storyline, even with that I still liked him playing this part, without him maybe I would have totally hated this characters storyline loll.
Character score 6/10
Chris Elliott as Dom Woganowski - Well this character I just found really weird. It was not a really bad weird, but I just did not think much to the character. The acting was good all the same. The character was played probably how it should be, but it just seemed really weird. Chris did do a good job with his part, as well as could be expected anyway loll.
Character score 4/10
W. Earl Brown as Warren Jensen - This is Mary's brother, he has mental disabilities, but the character is played so convinsing, and has some very funny scenes in it too. Him and Mary are really close and she cares for him. He more or less has to approve of Mary's boyfriends. The part is played very well, and Chris did a very good job, and was very convincing in his role.
Character score 8/10
There are more characters, but these are the main ones in the film, that really make the film what it is.
The soundtrack -----------------------
The soundtrack has some great hits like Build me up Buttercup, and Close to you. To be honest the only two songs I remember hearing in the film, was build me up buttercup, only because I love that song, and there's something about Mary, which I did find quite a boring song, but it stuck out because it was the same title as the film. I really did not rate much to the soundtrack, and thought that better songs could have been put in, but maybe that's because most of them was well before my time, or just unknown songs. I am sure some people may have liked it, but it really was not for me. Although I did not like the soundtrack, it did not ruin the film in anyway.
Soundtrack 3/10
My opinion ----------------
Ok well I did really enjoy watching this film, it was a very comical love story. I would not recommend kids watching it or anyone who does not like swearing as it does contain a lot of bad language, to me it just made it funnier, it seemed to be used just at the right time.
I think all the actors in this film were very well picked to play each of their roles superbly. Some of the characters did seem a bit much and maybe they could have done something different with them, but I really enjoyed watching it. I laughed most of the way through this film, with some very comical moments which I will not spoil for you.
Would I recommend this film, I certainly would, maybe its not for all tastes, but I think its worth a watch. Its not a film I would watch again, but I really enjoyed it when I saw it.
Overall film score 9/10
Directors Bobby Farrelly and Peter Farrelly Language English Running time 119 mins The film has a 15 certificate Release date 25th September 1998
More details
Soundtrack
Unmemorable
How does it compare to others by the same director?
Good
Value for Money
Excellent
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Comedy - Director: Shawn Levy, Rawson Marshall Thurber, Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over
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