Long before bodily fluids jokes hit the windshield of tastemaker disdain, "There's Something About Mary" paired whip-smart dialogue with the kind of "worst nightmare" gags that once kept teen males from a good night's sleep. Yet revisiting this watershed comedy movie reminds us how it transcended mere raunch to wholly smash the box office: This is a film of disarming heart, making "There's Something About Mary" fun for the whole (adult) family.
Having secured as his prom date the captivating Mary (Cameron Diaz), the yearnings of Ted (Ben Stiller) are dashed by a busted zipper. Years on, he deploys grease-slicked private investigator Patrick (Matt Dillon) to pin down Mary's whereabouts. We're led to Miami, where Mary is a beautiful and single orthopedic surgeon. Patrick himself is smitten; his attempts to court Mary are pitted against Ted's desires to rekindle.
Along the way, we're treated to cartoonish buffoonery and surrealist fantasy, all while sexual vulgarities and gleeful immaturities rain down en masse. The film's audacious rep is well-earned, as is its historical clout: “There’s Something About Mary” sits at #27 among AFI's 100 Funniest Movies. - (Was this of use? If so, let me know by clicking "Helpful." Cheers!) WATCHED IT? THEN WATCHLIST: [[ASIN:B000I3SPLK "The 40-Year-Old Virgin,"]] [[ASIN:B07JVSYPZ7 "Stadium Anthems."]]