(Rated PG-13, 1 hr. 43 mins.)
The “Kingpin” (s) of gross out humor stretch the distance since “Dumb and Dumber” in a new movie that attempts to have morals instead of just their usual. Gwyneth Paltrow plays Rosemary, a warm-hearted Peace Corps volunteer who starts an unlikely romance with Hal (Jack ”High Fidelity” Black). Hal is about as shallow as they come. When asked if he would prefer a woman with only one breast or half a brain, his response is, “How big is the breast?” His best friend (Jason Alexander) is equally abrasive and loathsome until one day, thanks to the power of suggestion and finding one’s inner beauty, Hal is temporarily blinded to Rosemary’s obesity. He comes to accept her exactly as she is but the movie itself is less than loving towards the large. The well-intended message won’t leave plus-size women leaving the theater cheering since every obese stereotype is recognized from collapsing chairs to cannon ball dives into a swimming pool. With the same message as this year’s earlier “Shrek” about beauty being skin deep, “Shrek” is a better journey to its final destination. Paltrow takes a risk and pulls off this sweet role, Alexander is his usual irritating character, but unlike Stiller or Carrey in past Farrelly flicks, Black can not carry the lead almost overly acting to keep up with the stories demands in the supposed-to-be over-the-top scenes. He’s better suited as a sidekick. If you’re expecting “Something About Mary” humor, fuggedaboutit. This one seems forced; as if the Farrelly’s realized they are expected to provide raunchy humor just to keep their wild reputation intact.
