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| Stuck
on You
Directed By: Bobby
Farrelly &
Peter Farrelly Plot
Summary - Review 1 - Review
2 - CURRENT REVIEWS
|
|
| A pair of conjoined twins, famous in their small hometown, set out for Hollywood where they hit the big time on a TV show. But their new fame brings problems that begin to drive them apart, as impossible as it might be. A comedy by the Farrelly Brothers ('There's Something About Mary').[TRAILER] How in the world does one make a full-length comedy about conjoined twins? The premise itself is understandable: Humans laugh at things that seem out of place and what could be more bizarre than two grown men, attached at the hip? But, before seeing “Stuck On You,” I was perplexed as to how such a subject could be drawn out for two hours, taken from a silly premise to an extended and involved feature. The Farrelly brothers have overcome this challenge in the most surprising and unexpected way – by ignoring it. Rather than creating an absurd or unbelievable story to justify the premise or push the characters this way or that, Bobby and Peter Farrelly have employed a surprisingly low-key plot, leaving the laughs to develop naturally from the characters and their interactions. In another movie, this would not even be worth noting. But in a comedy that could have been so incredibly far-fetched and preposterous, seeing such restraint is a welcome surprise. Bo (Matt Damon) and Walt (Greg Kinnear), as the bonded twins, are actually among the most normal subjects of any Farrelly movie. Sure, they are permanently connected to one another, but both Bo and Walt are kind, sensitive, funny and personable people. They own a restaurant on the east coast where both work as grill men. Walt is an aspiring actor. Bo has a long distance, online relationship with a woman in California, whom he cares for a great deal. And yes, as expected, I laughed as these twins went about their daily business, going through their routine in the kitchen or performing in a play – Walt starring, of course, and Bo hiding behind his brother, attempting to overcome his stage fright. What I didn’t expect was the degree to which I came to care about these men as they abandon their homes and friends for an adventure out west. Walt’s success in an area theater production gives him the confidence to journey to California and pursue an acting career. Bo, who has little choice but to do what his brother does, journeys with him, becoming the one-man fan club for his brother who becomes discouraged when one agent after another laughs the two out of the office. “Stuck On You,” like many other recent comedies, thrives off the blatant disconnect between its characters and its scenarios. Just as “Bad Santa” contrasted the holiday spirit with the apathy of a vulgar thief, “Stuck On You” throws the most unusual brothers imaginable into the most normal and unsuspecting situations. Take, for example, Bo’s date with his Internet girlfriend, a normal event in the life of a guy, but a hilarious encounter when Bo must cover up the fact that he has a conjoined twin. They go to a drive in, but both Bo and Walt sit in the front eat. There is the goodnight kiss, but Walt must accompany the couple to the door and stand only inches away. Or, when Walt finally lands an acting gig on a prominent television movie, the producer and director find hilarious ways of editing out his second half. Everything about the scene is dignified and accomplished, except the obvious impediment that Walt must endure with his every step. Damon and Kinnear deliver, dare I say, memorable performances. Kinnear is the up-beat, outgoing, energetic half, and Bo is the supportive, but often quiet and questioning type. But again, going against the formula we expect, they also project a constant affection for the other. The biggest conflict of the movie is their separation, and when that moment arrives, real emotions play out between the two. The Farrelly brothers have succeeded more than they have failed. “There’s Something About Mary,” which mixed gross-out humor with believable and enduring characters, was named by the American Film Institute as one of the best comedies of all time. What they do in “Stuck On You” is a slick bit of deception, drawing us in to laugh at something odd, only to back off completely so that we laugh more at the situation than the characters. In this regard it is an enduring and welcome deviation from the mean-spirited comedies that expend so much energy tearing people down. Check out Reviews, Commentary, and More at Zertinet.com |
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