There's Something About Mary

Critics Consensus

There's Something About Mary proves that unrelentingly, unabashedly peurile humor doesn't necessarily come at the expense of a film's heart.

83%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 83

61%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 33,121,539

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Movie Info

The Farrelly Brothers set this romantic comedy in their home state of Rhode Island. In 1985, when teen-nerd Ted Stroehmann (Ben Stiller) challenges a high-schooler who's bullying retarded Warren Jenson (W. Earl Brown), his concern prompts Warren's sister, the dazzling and desirable Mary Jenson (Cameron Diaz) to choose Ted as her senior prom date, a fact Ted's pals find hard to believe. However, on prom night, Ted gets his penis caught in his zipper, so the much-desired date never happens. Living in Providence and waxing nostalgic 13 years later, Ted hires Pat Healy (Matt Dillon) to locate Mary, and the creepy private investigator finds her in Miami, where she lives with her tan-shriveled roommate Magda (Lin Shaye). After Pat develops a stalker-style fixation on the lovely, unattached Mary, he lies to Ted, telling him that she's now an overweight mother confined to a wheelchair. Employing professional eavesdropping equipment, Pat gathers a dossier on Mary's life and future plans, information that forms the basis for more lies when Pat begins dating her. Sure enough, Mary falls for Pat, although her friend Tucker (Lee Evans) is very suspicious of Pat's claim to be a Harvard-educated architect. Meanwhile, Ted learns the truth but continues to encounter offbeat obstacles as he accelerates to Miami in hopes of finding happiness with his true love. Former Modern Lovers singer Jonathan Richman vocalizes a narrative ballad of onscreen commentary in the Cat Ballou (1965) tradition. Most of the cast sings and frolics to Build Me Up, Buttercup by The Foundations during the closing credits. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Cast

Cameron Diaz
as Mary
Ben Stiller
as Ted Stroehmann
Matt Dillon
as Pat Healy
Chris Elliott
as Dom
Lin Shaye
as Magda
Lee Evans
as Tucker/Norman
W. Earl Brown
as Warren
Jeffrey Tambor
as Sully
Sarah Silverman
as Brenda
Khandi Alexander
as Joanie
Marnie Alexander
as Lisa
Richard Tyson
as Det. Krevoy
Brett Favre
as Himself
Harland Williams
as Hitchhiker
Markie Post
as Mary's Mom
Keith David
as Mary's Stepfather
Dan Murphy
as Boss' Brother
Rob Moran
as Detective Stabler
Jackie Flynn
as South Carolina Police
Hillary Matthews
as Dom's Wife
Richard Jenkins
Willie Garson
as Doctor Zit Face/High School Pal
David Shackelford
as Coconut Guy
David Goryl
as Petey
Lori Glick
as Friend 3
Jeffrey P. Lerner
as Car Hood Kid
Cory Pendergast
as Car Hood Kid
Warren Tashjian
as Freddie
Kelly Roarke
as Girl
Herbie Flynn
as Homeless Man
Caryl West
as Medical Assistant 1
Ken Rogerson
as Pants at Ankles Guy
Brad Blank
as Paramedic
Steve Sweeney
as Police Officer
Cindy Oliver
as Renise
Steve Tyler
as TV News Reporter
Maureen Griffin
as Wine Waitress
Bob Farrelly
as Hot Dog Stud
Mariann Farrelly
as Driving Range Sweetie
Jonathan Richman
as Jonathan
Tommy Larkins
as Drummer
Lenny Clarke
as Fireman
Daniel Greene
as Pizza House Man
Lagena Greene
as Pizza House Woman
Michael K. Budge
as Joe Bishop Look-Alike
James Gifford
as Jimmy
Sean P. Gildea
as Prison Warden
Zen Gesner
as Bartender
Tracy Anne George
as Dancer
Jesse Farrelly
as Dom's Kid
Anna Farrelly
as Dom's Kid
Zack Lee
as Mary's Little Friend
Valerie Bruce
as Nimord's Cafe Patron
Kelly O'Brien
as Office Assistant
Mike Charpentier
as Hot Club Patron
Peter Grundy
as Hot Club Patron
Michael Gannon
as Hot Club Patron
Peter Conway
as Hot Club Patron
Patricia Ann Conway
as Hot Club Patron
Susan O'Day
as Hot Club Patron
Heather Rosebeck
as Hot Club Patron
Jack de Shields
as Hot Club Barkeep
Fallon Shields
as Hot Club Barkeep
Bob Grundy
as Hot Club Barkeep
Nancy Farrelly
as Boardroom Babe
Billy Beauchene
as Insurance Spitballer
Kathy Beauchene
as Insurance Spitballer
Manny Barrows
as Insurance Spitballer
Michael Murphy
as Office Worker
Sheila Moore
as Officer Worker
Barbara O'Connor
as Ashtray Babe
Tim Sheehan
as Camera Hog
Richie Balsbaugh
as Cigar Smoker
Jim 'Sunshine' Blake
as Architect Partier
Tim Robbie
as Architect Partier
Providence Wissel
as Architect Partier
Ruth Michelle Meyer
as Architect Partier
Billy Meyer
as Architect Partier
Brian McGlaughlin
as Architect Partier
Brian Moore
as Architect Partier
John Stroehman
as Architect Partier
Pete Anicelli
as Architect Partier
Duana Knight
as Architect Babe
Kelley Schneider
as Architect Babe
Meda Thomas
as Architect Babe
Jeanie Flynn
as Cuban Dancer
Kevin Civali
as Cuban Dancer
Tom Leasca
as Cuban Dancer
Mercy Lopez
as Cuban Dancer
Scott Rosenberg
as Jail Bird
George Bedard
as Jail Bird
Terry Mullany
as Jail Bird
Rick Coleman
as Jail Bird
Michael Burke
as Jail Bird
Kris Meyer
as Jail Bird
Emilio Diaz
as Jail Bird
Billy Smith
as Jail Bird
Ed Nelson
as Jail Bird
Brian Stube
as Jail Bird
Don Daley
as Jail Bird
Frank Clem
as Strip Club Pervert
Julia Hissom
as Strip Club Pervert
Sport Ahern
as Strip Club Pervert
Robin Gau
as Strip Club Pervert
Paul Pelletier
as Cordosa Gawker
Monique Pelletier
as Cordosa Gawker
Johnny Mone
as Comic Book Kid
Nick Greenbury
as Fish Hook Kid
Andrew Greenbury
as Fish Hook Kid
Phil M. Rosenberg
as Cell Block Masseuse
John-Eliot Jordan
as Buttercup Singer
John Adamonis
as Buttercup Singer
Kyle Adamonis
as Buttercup Singer
Neil Pomfret
as Buttercup Singer
Ruth Pomfret
as Buttercup Singer
Joshua John Miller
as Buttercup Singer
Marnie Alexenburg
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Critic Reviews for There's Something About Mary

All Critics (83) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (69) | Rotten (14)

  • If the sight of a large chunk of a man's private parts caught in the teeth of a zipper is funny -- and I'm not saying it isn't -- then have I got a movie for you.

    February 3, 2009 | Full Review…

    Michael O'Sullivan

    Washington Post
    Top Critic

  • This one is dumbest. And funniest, as if that matters even a little bit!

    February 3, 2009 | Full Review…

    Stephen Hunter

    Washington Post
    Top Critic

  • Losers competing against one another (and even bigger losers) for a dishy woman: That's the setup for [the Farrellys'] wrackingly funny new farce There's Something About Mary, maybe the ultimate nerd masochistic fantasy.

    February 3, 2009 | Full Review…

    David Edelstein

    Slate
    Top Critic

  • Crudely made, somewhat overlong and larded with plenty of things that don't work, pic stands as proof positive that a comedy can be far from perfect and still hit the bull's-eye if it delivers when it counts in its big scenes.

    February 3, 2009 | Full Review…

    Todd McCarthy

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • Despite my earlier reservations about Bobby and Peter Farrelly, they're progressively winning me over, partly because they keep getting better.

    February 3, 2009 | Full Review…

    Jonathan Rosenbaum

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • Remarkable for all the sick and politically incorrect sight gags it gets away with in its rule-breaking romp through the supposedly sacred laws of what makes people laugh, and what doesn't.

    April 27, 2007 | Full Review…

    Andrew Sarris

    Observer
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (83)

Audience Reviews for There's Something About Mary

  • Nov 01, 2013
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]
    Directors C Super Reviewer
  • May 23, 2012
    There's certainly something about Mary in the film, everyone loves her!! I loved the humiliation humor in the film and the montages, the jokes were pretty good (The interrogation scene was hilarious) it's a feel good retro comedy
    Sylvester K Super Reviewer
  • Feb 01, 2012
    The best movie by the Farrelly Brothers.
    Lucas M Super Reviewer
  • Dec 04, 2011
    Very funny and entertaining.
    Rodrigo R Super Reviewer
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