Review of Along Came Polly (2004) by Mark H — 10 Mar 2011

Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston should make a great pair, and in a better movie, they probably do. Along Came Polly does them no favors. Stiller plays Reuben, a risk-assessment analyst who, big surprise, avoids any and all risk.

Such aversion to anything adventurous is what sends his live wire new wife (Debra Messing) into the bed of another guy on their honeymoon. Reuben is feeling pretty lost, but then comes Polly (Aniston), a total free spirit who introduces him to salsa dancing, spicy food and ferrets.

All of those scenarios lead to many tired gags. Aniston is of course much better than this material. And director John Hamburg, who collaborated with Stiller on Zoolander and Meet The Parents (two actual good movies) traps Stiller and Aniston in a one-note rom com.

And the even though the supporting cast is top-notch, they can't even save this dreck, except for, of all people, Philip Seymour Hoffman as Reuben's best friend, Sandy, a former child star addicted to pot and starring in a production of Jesus Christ Superstar, where he plays Jesus and Judas.

Then there's Alec Baldwin as Stan, Reuben's boss, rocking a New Yawk accent. Finally we get Hank Azaria as Claude, a French nudist scuba instructor showcasing his knack for accents. Sorry if I'm making Along Came Polly appealing, because it is in fact, not.