Usually, I don’t review romantic comedies, but when I do, I make sure that they are pretty damn good. Along Came Polly is another classic romantic comedy from the golden period of this genre 1998-2006, following the accepted formula: one guy playing it safe and one girl playing it pretty wild (although this is mainstream wild, not really wild). I think that Ben Stiller is perfect for movies like this, he plays the good guy so convincingly that I think that he should receive an Oscar. For fuck’s sake, this is the same year he released Meet the Fockers, a sequel to already cult mainstream comedy Meet the Parents.
Playing his friend is Philip Seymour Hoffman, an amazing actor thriving in this comedic environment (I especially liked his basketball shouts). And, of course, the girl next door that you wanna bang, Jennifer Aniston. As a bonus, we get ripped Hank Azaria (Moe, Wiggum, Apu from Simpsons) with his scubaaa routine that is hilarious. Not to mention young Kevin Hart and two old-schoolers Alec Baldwin and Bryan Brown.
With an average main story and a lot of gags and funny scenes (bathroom, basketball…) Along Came Polly is definitely worth a watch. The chemistry between Ben and Jen might not be sparkling but they push through the movie very professionally. In the end, the main question is: will this movie entertain you? Ancient rom-com experts say the answer is a resounding yes. Another thing that might interest you is a personal aspect of the story. I can attest that I was fucking Reuben at one point in my life and maybe this is why I found the movie so endearing. Not to mention all the crude humor and a stellar performance by Mr. Seymour Hoffman.
Reuben Feffer works as a risk analyst in a big company and he has lived his whole life by the rules and playing it safe. Now he is finally married to the love of his life Lisa Kramer and they immediately after the wedding fly to St. Barts for a romantic honeymoon in a tropical paradise. Of course, this would be a boring movie if something awkward did not happen, and when Reuben caught Lise doing it with their scuba diving instructor his whole world falls apart.
He decides to return to their newly bought apartment while Lise stays at St. Barts trying to figure out what she wants (well, I think she made it pretty clear). Reuben’s best friend Sandy tries to cheer him up by taking him to a gallery where he meets Polly, a waitress who is living her life to the max (yeah right)…
This movie is best watched hammered. I recommend beer and weed if you’re asking. It just flows like a good piss after a couple of beers. It has that gross-out vibe that I like so much and that was a deal-breaker for much of the audience. And you know me, throw in just one shitting scene and I am fucking in! A habit I picked up in The Party.
Surely it’s not Harold & Kumar or EuroTrip, oddly enough both released the same year, but it’s just so damn entertaining. You can watch these movies along with few others released in the same period (There’s Something About Mary, Sex Drive) and have a retro-comedy-weekend full of fun.
Director: John Hamburg
Writer: John Hamburg
Cast: Ben Stiller, Jennifer Aniston, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Debra Messing, Alec Baldwin, Hank Azaria
Fun Facts: Ben Stiller mentioned while on a talk show promoting the film that the ferret bit him a couple of times during production, including one time latching onto his chin.
Rating:
IMDb Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343135/
