Review of Along Came Polly (2004) by Ola G — 13 Dec 2008

Reuben Feffer (Ben Stiller) is certain that he has found the love of his life in Lisa Kramer (Debra Messing), but on their honeymoon he discovers her cheating on him with the french buffed up scuba instructor Claude (Hank Azaria). Reuben then decides to travel back home to forget about Lisa and restructure his life.

On a night out with his best pal, Sandy Lyle (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), Reuben bumps into an old school friend, Polly Prince (Jennifer Aniston). Reuben feels that there is something intriguing with Polly and eventually they start to date, even if they are very different as persons. Reuben is a risk analyst with a well thought out life. Polly is a waitress with a very floaty lifestyle and a scattered mind. In order to understand that you have to let go sometimes and just live in the moment, Reuben needs to experience all sorts of things.

"Along Came Polly" has one big problem and that problem is the casting of Ben Stiller as Reuben. The story is more or less there, with some small issues, but Ben Stiller can not handle this part and it ends up with his usual slapstick and silly situation comedy routine. Which I believe sinks the movie in many ways. There are situations in the movie, that just do not make sense either. For example when Reuben discovers his wife cheating on their honeymoon. Reubens reaction is the saddest thing I have seen. I would have teared down the bloody island they were on! Yet again, the highlight is Jennifer Aniston as Polly. She is quite lovable, human and a true sparkle despite her very floaty ways. Phillip Seymour Hoffman as the actor, known only for a teenrole, is maybe a bit on a routine as well, but he is never bad.

"Along Came Polly" could have been a lot better with someone else in the lead as Reuben. And with some touching up of the script. Still, it is a 3 in my book.