THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY

• Starring Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon and Ben Stiller
• Directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly
• Rated R with profanity and sex-oriented gross-outs; running time 100 minutes
• With 10 as a must-see, Jack gives this film a 4

By Jack Garner
Democrat and Chronicle

(July 17, 1998) -- There's Something About Mary, a new comic love story from the creators of Dumb and Dumber, positively reeks of tastelessness and lack of common decency.

By virtually spitting on people with disabilities -- a guy with permanent braces, characters in wheelchairs, the mentally disabled -- filmmakers Peter and Bobby Farrelly make it impossible to endorse their new comedy.

If that's not enough, they also offer up two of the most sophomoric sex sight gags I've ever seen, as well as more basic anti-elderly and anti-fat jokes.

The Farrelly brothers obviously want to thumb their noses at convention -- and they equate bad taste with daring filmmaking. But such moronic humor only reflects a lack of imagination.

It's a shame they go too far, for between the many disgusting moments, Mary offers legitimately funny segments, as well as a potentially appealing plot.

Cameron Diaz is marvelous as the title character, a shimmering beauty and all-around good person who finds herself pursued by four would-be lovers:

Ted Stroehmann (Ben Stiller), who was a nerd when he loved Mary back in high school. Now he's a decent fellow, looking to rekindle a romance.

Pat Healy (Matt Dillon), a slimy private eye hired by Ted to find Mary. But once he finds her, he tries to move in on his own.

Tucker (Lee Evans), an architect with disabilities who'd like to become more than just Mary's close friend.

A surprise suitor who shows up in the final act and is played -- quite woodenly -- by a famous athlete who should never give up his day job.

I can't fault the actors. Each is a capable performer and earns the laughs he or she gets.

The writing-directing Farrelly brothers are another story. I don't know why they have such rage against people with disabilities -- do they covet a handicapped parking space?

But I know from experience what my parents would have done if the filmmakers had tried such degrading humor around them. The Farrellys would have had their mouths washed out with soap and been sent to bed without supper.