The movie gets bonus points for using criminally underrated, terrific actors like Khandi Alexander (of "News Radio" and "ER") and Lee Evans (from Funny Bones, which if you haven't seen, you must go rent). Bonus points revoked for using them so poorly --- Alexander barely gets to do anything, and while Evans gets to show off his superlative physical comedy, it's in the course of a particularly unfunny joke about a man on crutches trying to pick up keys.
As for the main actors, Cameron Diaz somehow manages to be radiant, gorgeous, charming, and a magnet for every man within 20 miles --- without making me want to punch her in the face. Matt Dillon displays a talent for comedy that I haven't seen since, oh, Wild Things. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Ben Stiller, who I usually like but who wasn't, except for a couple of good moments, funny at all (and thank you so-o-o-o-o-o-o much, Farrelly brothers, for making me watch Ben Stiller masturbate. I could've waited my whole life to see that).
But, what I'm left with at the end is a bad taste in my mouth. So, as I often do, I'll turn it over to CNN Online's Paul Tatara, who says what I want to say, only better and funnier:
"The whole P.C. trip has certainly gotten out of hand by now, and deserves to get its nose rubbed in some reality-based poop. But -- like the much more dangerously vicious Starship Troopers -- the average audience for something like this isn't going to be laughing at the blatantly misguided idea of making cruel jokes about retarded kids, handicapped people, homosexuals, and animal abuse. They'll simply be laughing at those targets. If this sounds like I'm saying that I'm smarter than lots of the people who'll be seeing There's Something About Mary, you're damn right I am. Have you sat down and talked to a 14 year-old boy lately?"
Thanks, Paul. Although actually I thought the "animal abuse" was pretty funny.
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