Yawn...
I
remember a time when I said to a friend: "Ben
Stiller is the future of the comedy." I take it
back.
Stiller is a funny man, but when a funny man
stars in a movie with a lousy script, it's
almost impossible to draw laughs. Remember "Meet
the Parents"? That comic gem? Not a trace of
that greatness is in this forgettable comedy
that is directed and written by the co-writer of
"Meet the Parents."
Stiller is Reuben, a risk-assessment agent for a
insurance company. On his honeymoon, he catches
his wife in bed with with a French scuba diving
instructor. He returns home, and meets Polly
Prince (Jennifer Aniston), his complete and
total opposite. He finds himself falling love.
"Along Came Polly" has some very good moments.
The always capable Phillip Seymour Hoffman saves
the movie from disaster as a former child star
forced to work in community theatre. Actually,
his few scenes that show him rehearsing for
"Jesus Christ Superstar" are the only scenes
that made me laugh out loud. He is such a
lovable loser, that I wish the story followed
him! Instead, we follow Polly and Reuben.
Stiller and Aniston are game, and both are
talented, but as I said above, it's impossible
to be funny when the lines you say are dull.
Other highlights include an adorable blind
ferret and a bathroom disaster scene so true to
life, if will make you squirm.
"Along Came Polly" is simply a dull film. Heck,
it's not even original! It's like a modern
re-imagining of Woody Allen's masterpiece "Annie
Hall," minus Allen's brilliant writing (Aniston
even has the same fashion sense of Diane Keaton
in "Annie Hall"!). I also could have lived
without hearing the roughly 12 farting sounds in
the movie.
If you have some free time, go see "Lord of the
Rings." If you've already seen it, than see it
again. If you've already seen it twice, go see
"Along Came Polly" just for a blind ferret and
Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
It's just so average!
©
Written by Jacob Hall
TC Candler's Comment
There are
about a dozen big laughs in this romantic comedy
in which Ben Stiller plays a man who analyzes
risk for a living and Jennifer Aniston plays a
flighty and spontaneous woman who seems to rub
her personality off on anyone she meets. The
film is basically one long "meet-cute" with
standard romantic comedy scenes throughout.
There are two things to ask yourself about a
film like this: It is funny? And is it romantic?
I have to admit that there are some hilarious
scenes in 'Along Came Polly'. The ones that are
truly memorable involve some truly awful
basketball shooting by Stiller's best friend
played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman. When he
exclaims "White Chocolate Make it Rain!" as he
drives to the hoop for a lay up, you will have a
hard time not peeing your pants.
There are a few too many jokes centered around
Stiller's irritable bowel syndrome, but for the
most part the jokes work well. The problem with
this movie is incurred in the romance. At no
point will you ever believe that Stiller and
Aniston make a great couple. But the film needs
them to be together regardless of their
incompatibility.
The romantic scenes are sickly sweet and utterly
implausible. It plays out more like an exercise
in 'Romantic Comedy Screenwriting 101'. I
laughed quite a lot during this movie and give
it a mild recommendation based on that alone.
The romance is a waste of time.
Richard
Propes' Comment
As a
testimony to the talent of Philip Seymour
Hoffman, one need only observe that he
significantly elevates this typical Stiller
comedy. I can't imagine Stiller and Aniston, but
now that she's dating Vince Vaughn...well, who
knows? She also seemed odd with Ron Livingston
in "Office Space," but maybe she has a thing for
goofy, slightly psychotic dark-haired guys.
"Along Came Polly" made me laugh, and while it
will never be anything I watch regularly it is a
film I'd have no trouble recommending for a
video rental. Stiller is his usual neurotic
self, but he plays that part well. Likewise,
Aniston has a sort of easy charm that makes her
watchable. Hoffman steals every scene he's in,
and is reason enough to watch this film.
