Tag Archives: Richard Tyson

1998 Films, Comedy, Romantic Comedy, Screwball Comedy

There’s Something About Mary-1998

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There’s Something About Mary-1998

Director Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly

Starring Ben Stiller, Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon

Scott’s Review #1,428

Reviewed June 16, 2024

Grade: B+

Since many films are released within the romantic comedy genre, most are disposable and forgettable. Very few stand out initially, let alone stand the test of time.

Decades later, There’s Something About Mary (1998) holds up well mostly because of its chemistry and laugh-out-loud memorable moments. It also has a heart and is not mean-spirited, showcasing a brewing romance people can relate to.

Watching in 2024, particularly interesting is the appeal of Cameron Diaz since she retired from acting, and a young Ben Stiller, who was then in his heyday and a box-office gem.

Brett Favre, who then was a superstar NFL quarterback, makes a cameo appearance.

It’s a pleasure to watch a hit film from decades ago that still holds appeal.

Ted’s (Ben Stiller) unexpected dream prom date with Mary (Cameron Diaz) in 1985 is disastrous when an embarrassing injury at her home prevents them from getting to the prom. Mary leaves town shortly after.

Thirteen years later, pre-social media in 1998, Ted hires shady investigator Pat Healy (Matt Dillon) to track down Mary so he can reconnect with her. Pat becomes obsessed with her and lies to Ted about Mary, learning everything she can about her to trick her into dating him.

Ted realizes the truth and travels to Miami, Florida, to meet Mary, a successful orthopedic surgeon, and reconnect with her.

Instantaneous hilarity comes to mind at the mention of two legendary scenes involving Ben Stiller’s Ted that most people have heard of.

While using the bathroom at Mary’s house before leaving for the prom, Ted gets his private parts, or ‘frank and beans’, caught in his zipper.

Every male viewer will squirm in imagined discomfort, but the hijinks with Mary’s parents and neighborhood firefighters who get involved make the sequence legendary.

This pairs well with a later scene when Ted masturbates just before his date with Mary to relax. Mary mistakes some ‘residue’ on Ted’s ear for hair gel and hilariously applies it to her hair, causing it to stick straight up in the air during dinner.

Both scenes still feel fresh and natural years later and are now historical.

The introduction of Tucker (Lee Evans), a third admirer of Mary, doesn’t work so well in hindsight. The revelation that he is not a British architect but merely a pizza deliverer who injured his back to get close to Mary feels forced and unnecessary.

The triangle between Ted/Mary/Pat is just enough.

The inclusion factors are impressive. In 1985, Mary had a black stepfather and a mentally disabled brother, both of whom she adores.

When Ted drives from Rhode Island to Florida, he stops at a rest area and is assumed to be gay. This is preceded by a session with a psychiatrist who suspects Ted may be gay.

These additions go a long way to showcase normalcy in these individual areas.

It’s also impressive that the Farrelly brothers (Peter and Bobby), who direct the film, make Mary a surgeon, paving the way for female viewers to aspire to the same.

There’s Something About Mary gets a slight knock for exploiting female breasts. Mary is seen at least twice through a window putting on a bra while a male spies on her from a distance.

The characters are benevolent, especially Ted and Mary, making it easy for the audience to root for them.

Thanks to the tremendous chemistry between Diaz, Stiller, and Dillon, There’s Something About Mary (1998) feels fresh and romantic without a forced feeling.

1990 Films, Comedy

Kindergarten Cop-1990

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Kindergarten Cop 1990

Director Ivan Reitman

Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger

Scott’s Review #1,306

Reviewed October 12, 2022

Grade: C+

Before Arnold Schwarzenegger found politics and after he left professional bodybuilding, he starred in a string of films during the 1980s and 1990s.

At first, he was solely a bankable action figure due to his bulky frame, but he later delved into more comedic, friendlier film roles.

Kindergarten Cop (1990) is one of those films, yet there is enough mild violence to draw in the male crowd as well.

Some of his films were better than others, with the best being The Terminator (1984) and True Lies (1994).

Kindergarten Cop is a fair-to-middling effort that attempts to transport the brawny star into a likable teacher, but the result feels more forced than genuine.

Naturally, the main character finds himself in a quandary over whether to fight crime or teach youngsters after he falls in love with them and with another teacher.

The setup is way too similar to other films in the action-comedy genre, and it’s very standard fare. The bad guy and love interest are tired and cliched, and the gags involving the kids are overly juvenile and mostly fall flat.

Despite these trite characteristics, Kindergarten Cop is not a terrible film, thanks to Schwarzenegger’s appeal. He is good-natured, and his transition from grizzled cop to a kindly teacher is not unfun.

It provides some family-friendly light entertainment that can be enjoyed on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

Unusual circumstances force cop John Kimble (Schwarzenegger) to pose as a kindergarten teacher to apprehend the major drug lord Cullen Crisp (Richard Tyson) and his accomplice and mother, Eleanor, played by Carroll Baker.

While pretending to be a kid-friendly instructor, Kimble falls for pretty fellow teacher Joyce Palmieri (Penelope Ann Miller) as he tries to balance unruly children with the dangerous bad guys.

In a twist seen coming a mile away, Joyce and her son are the people that Cullen is pursuing.

Kindergarten Cop all seems so perfectly thought out.

It’s like a bunch of suits were sitting at a round table making sure the elements were all included: hero, bad guy, love interest, kids, enough action sequences, and a chase finale.

There is even one standard black kid and one Asian kid to check off the diversity box.

And enough precociousness to last a lifetime.

The comedy mostly comes in the classroom, where it’s frequently humorous to watch a gigantic man teach little kids, especially when he has no idea what to do.

Careful not to be too silly, there are a couple of sentimental moments and social situations, like when Kimble threatens a father who is abusing his son.

Director Ivan Reitman, quite familiar with screwball comedies, directed funnies such as Meatballs (1979) and Stripes (1981), so he knows what makes people chuckle.

The action sequences do not work well, other than providing a reason for Kimble to run around and protect the kids and Joyce. We all know he will eventually best Cullen, which he does.

Even the amazing Linda Hunt is wasted as a one-dimensional principal who initially hates Kimble but then comes around and accepts him.

Kindergarten Cop (1990) is too blueprint-ready to recommend since it contains elements used in hundreds of other films. But for fans of the hulking Schwarzenegger, the film is a safe offering that sees the star in a softer light.