The Born to Watch team tackle the Farrelly Brothers' comedy and have a great laugh in doing so.
There's Something About Mary is a 1998 romantic comedy film directed by the Farrelly brothers and starring Cameron Diaz, Ben Stiller, and Matt Dillon. The film follows the story of Ted Stroehmann (Stiller), a socially awkward and hopelessly in love high school student who, years after a disastrous prom date with Mary Jensen (Diaz), hires a private detective to track her down. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $369 million at the box office and becoming one of the highest-grossing romantic comedies of all time.
One of the things that made There's Something About Mary stand out was its raunchy and irreverent sense of humor. The film was full of gross-out gags and crass jokes that pushed the boundaries of good taste, and it helped to pave the way for a wave of similar comedies in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The film's success also helped to establish the Farrelly brothers as major players in the comedy world, and they would go on to direct a number of other successful comedies, including Dumb and Dumber, Me, Myself & Irene, and Hall Pass.
Another thing that made There's Something About Mary memorable was its talented cast. Diaz was at the height of her fame when the film was released, and she brought a likable and charming presence to the role of Mary. Stiller was also great as Ted, portraying the character's socially awkward and desperate-to-impress personality with hilarious results. The supporting cast was also strong, with memorable performances from Matt Dillon as sleazy private detective Healy and Lee Evans as the eccentric Tucker.
One of the most memorable aspects of There's Something About Mary was its clever and well-written script. The film was full of witty one-liners and hilarious set pieces, and it was able to balance its outrageous humour with genuine heart and emotion. The romance between Ted and Mary was sweet and believable, and the film's use of flashbacks to show their high school relationship added an extra layer of nostalgia and sentimentality to the story.
In terms of its impact on pop culture, There's Something About Mary has had a lasting legacy. The film's gross-out humour and crass jokes were imitated by a number of other comedies in the years following its release, and it helped to establish a particular type of raunchy, irreverent humour as a mainstay in mainstream comedy. The film's memorable quotes and scenes have also become pop culture touchstones, with lines like "hair gel" and "the zipper" being repeated and referenced in various media.
Overall, There's Something About Mary is a classic comedy that has had a lasting impact on pop culture. Its clever script, talented cast, and outrageous sense of humour have made it a beloved and enduring film, and it remains a must-see for fans of romantic comedies.
