Andrew Worsdale Movies of the week
A lthough it’s a box-office hit in the United States, There’s Something About Mary starring Cameron Diaz has film critics divided.
One of my peers, who shall remain nameless, said “it’s the biggest load of crap I’ve seen all year”. I, on the other hand, thought it quite enjoyable. But then again, I also thought the Ace Ventura movies rather entertaining.
Brothers Peter and Bobby Farrelly, who also directed the totally crass Dumb and Dumber with Jim Carrey, have come up with another real silly combination of slapstick and kitsch.
Diaz (The Mask, A Life Less Ordinary and Feeling Minnesota) plays Mary Jenson, a beautiful, intelligent, witty, charming, single woman – every man’s dream girl.
Ted Stroehmann (played by Ben Stiller) has been besotted with Mary ever since she asked him to a high school dance. Alas, the night ended in disaster when he had a nasty incident with his pants zipper. After school ended that year, Mary moved to Florida with her parents, and Ted never saw her again.
Twelve years later Ted is still crazy about Mary and hires private detective Pat Healy (played by Diaz’s real-life lover Matt Dillon) to track her down.
But when Healy finds Mary, he too falls in love with her. In order to keep her to himself, Healy hides the fact that she is more beautiful than ever. Instead of telling Ted about her successful medical career, he says that she’s gained weight and has four illegitimate children.
Healy in turn lies about his own background in order to win Mary’s affections. However, complications arise when Ted learns of Healy’s deceit.
The film is rather risqu and the humour is totally over-the-top. This is by no means a snappy Billy Wilder comedy – the directors string out the laughs. But it will give you a load of chuckles if you’re open-minded.
There’s Something About Mary is no masterpiece, and unlike the Farrelly brothers’ Kingpin, it has few dark edges.
It’s a routine romantic comedy that teenagers will find very enjoyable.
If you prefer more highbrow fare, don’t miss Memory and Desire, an intriguing “art-house” film from first-time director Niki Caro.
It’s an emotional story of an obsessive and doomed love affair. A Japanese couple get married against the wishes of the groom’s mother.
On honeymoon in New Zealand, he drowns and the wife (played by Yuri Kinugawa) is left grieving.
It’s a dark film given weight by the performances and the candour of Caro’s direction.
It’s quite a different kettle of fish to the rest of the movies opening this week, but it’s definitely the most mature of the lot.