Less 'Mary' is actually 'More'

"There's Something About Mary" was an undeniably special film upon its release some five years ago. It hearkened back to the gross-out genre established by such classics as "Animal House" and "Caddyshack," which had gone ignored by major Hollywood studios for the better part of two decades. Replete with potshots at the mentally handicapped, long, lingering shots of breasts (albeit sagging, wrinkly ones) and a variety of jokes revolving around Ben Stiller's penis, "Mary" was and still is a revelation. There really is something about "Mary" -- hence, the new DVD treatment.\nFor those not already in the know, Stiller stars as Ted, a struggling writer who remains infatuated with his near-high school sweetheart, Mary (a luminous Cameron Diaz). He decides to do something about it by hiring a sleazy private dick named Pat Healy (Matt Dillon) to track her down. Naturally, as Mary's successful, smart, sweet, single and sexy as shit, Healy quickly grows smitten as well. The rest of the flick concerns who will win fair Mary's hand.\nRenamed "There's Something More About Mary," the disc's moniker is somewhat of a letdown. Many of the extras are remnants of Special Edition VHS and DVD treatments from a few years back. And a vast majority of the newer supplements look as though they were produced cheaply and with little care. Viewers have the option to watch the original theatrical version or the new extended version, which adds 15 unneeded (not to mention unfunny) minutes to the flick. \nWhat few highlights there are come through the Farrelly Brothers' light and breezy updated commentary track and the "Best Fight" MTV Movie Awards montage featuring Stiller and Puffy the Dog. Two featurettes also entertain; one entitled "Up a Tree" focuses on the movie's resident balladeer, Jonathan Richman, and the other, "Touchdown," is nothing more than a conversation with Brett Favre -- stupid jocks make me laugh.\nNot as funny as "Dumb and Dumber" and "Kingpin," yet better than "Me, Myself and Irene" and "Shallow Hal," "Mary" remains smack-dab in the middle of the Farrelly catalogue. Hilarious and nearly classic, "There's Something More About Mary" deserves better and proves less is sometimes more.