Common Sense Media Review
Farrelly bros' classic is full of gross-out laughs.
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There's Something About Mary
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 9 parent reviews
Based on 14 kid reviews
Kids say this movie has been met with mixed reviews, with a significant number of viewers deeming it inappropriate for younger audiences due to its use of strong language, sexual content, and drug references. However, some viewers appreciate the humor and chemistry between the leads, describing it as a hilarious romantic comedy, despite acknowledging that it may not be suitable for children.
- inappropriate content
- mixed reviews
- strong language
- great chemistry
- hilarious moments
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY centers on hapless Ted (Ben Stiller), who's having a Charlie Brown life. His therapist ducks out on his sessions, his friends have everything he wants, and he still can't get over the girl he almost went to prom with (Cameron Diaz). He's having fantasies about her and trying to forget the tragic zipper accident that sent him to the hospital for weeks and forced him to miss out on what he's sure would have been his perfect relationship. So he takes Dom's (Chris Elliot's) advice and hires a private investigator Healy (Matt Dillon) to find her so he can finally have closure and, maybe, a second chance at love. But can Healy find her, and if he can, can he resist her football-and-beer-loving charm?
Is It Any Good?
Sure, the plot may sound like your typical romantic comedy -- but not with the Farrelly brothers at the helm. These are the same guys who brought you Dumb and Dumber, with its toilet humor and political incorrectness. Instead, this is a frat guy's idea of a romantic comedy, full of jokes at the expense of disabled people and women. Sure, the guys who fall for Mary are the ultimate joke; undeveloped man-boy idiots drooling over her charms -- how many leggy blondes are doctors who love beer and football?
If you can't stand this kind of humor, stay clear. And it's certainly not the thing for anyone with dating horror stories -- Chris Elliot's character won't be funny at all. But the film definitely has enough to satisfy adult gross-out humor fans.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the appeal of this movie and the whole gross-out genre. Do you think these extremely flawed characters are funny? What do you think about angelic and idealized Mary in comparison?
Is this film equally funny to men and women? Why or why not?
Were there parts of the film you found more offensive than funny? Would you seek out other movies like this or stick to lighter comedy fare?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 15, 1998
- On DVD or streaming : September 13, 2005
- Cast : Ben Stiller , Cameron Diaz , Matt Dillon
- Directors : Bobby Farrelly , Peter Farrelly
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 119 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong comic sexual content and language.
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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