Along Came Polly (2004)
It's pretty easy to know whether
or not you'll like "Along Came Polly" because the
entire question is really based on whether or not
you like Ben Stiller. Hey, you know, that's a pretty
good litmus test for Stiller movies: If you've liked
them before, you'll probably like this one. On the
other hand, if "Zoolander" made you cringe and you
walked out of the theater where "Mystery Men" was
showing and wanted to commit arson, then this film
probably isn't for you (at least, leave the matches
at home).
No doubt, John Hamburg's script
leaves a lot to be desired. It's hard to believe that
this is the same guy who wrote "Zoolander" and "Meet
the Parents." Hamburg wants to make his main male
character a neurotic mess, so he saddles him with
the obvious job of insurance statistician leaving
Stiller ample opportunities to cite facts and figures
with percentage rates acting as exposition. It's pretty
blatant Scriptwriting 101.
A further indication of Hamburg's
ineptitude comes in the character that Phillip Seymour
Hoffman plays, a ageing child star (yawn) who is trying
to regain his popularity. He's also the subject of
an upcoming "E! True Hollywood Story" (double yawn).
It's typical, trite, idiotic movie characters like
this that make a coma seem like a good idea. Hoffman,
in a none to surprising turn, plays the character
as annoyingly as humanly possible and seem to use
the rationale of "method acting" as his excuse for
not taking a shower during the entire film shoot.
It is nearly enough to make you puke.
If there is any reason to see "Along
Came Polly," it is Jennifer Aniston who seems very
relaxed in the film. Aniston is just about the only
"Friends" star whose had a career away from that franchise
and she has done so seemingly by not taking anything
she does too seriously. Here, she seems breezy, natural
and likeable. We certainly enjoy seeing her help Stiller
to tone down his new York Jew neurosis a notch or
two.
Another good thing about "Along
Came Polly" is the appearance by Alec Baldwin. He
really has a couple of hilarious scenes here. As does
Hank Azaria, who starts out being annoying but ends
up winning us over. Wish the same could be said for
"Will and Grace" star Debra Messing. Stuck in a thankless
role with little or no basis in reality, Messing sinks
under the weight of her own TV persona. Messing is
exactly what she is doing to this film.
So, Stiller fans (and by that I
mean anyone who doesn't find Stiller annoying), Aniston
fans and those looking for something light and mildly
romantic will find a lot to like here. (With many
gross-out jokes to hate). Just take the hint from
Aniston here and relax and enjoy it for what it is.
Notes:
Also with Bryan Brown and Missi
Pyle.
Danny DeVito is a producer.
The play "Jesus Christ Superstar"
is performed briefly in the film.
Aniston was supposedly filming this,
"Friends," and "Bruce Almighty" at the same time.
Stiller claimed that the ferret
bit him a couple times during the filming.
Filmed in New York, L.A. and Hawaii.
Viewed in February 2004 at the Cinemark
Barton Creek with my roomie Amanda and my friend Johnny
Oh!
