 Movie
Reviews
with Evelyn Gough
Stuck On You (M)
Written & Directed by Bobby & Peter Farrelly.
 Bob Tenor (Matt Damon) enjoys his first kiss with longtime Internet girlfriend May (Wen Yann Shih), as Walt (Greg Kinnear) tries his best not to intrude.
Don't get the wrong idea or make assumptions about the latest comedy from the Farrelly brothers, Stuck On You. There is no way I would endorse a movie that pokes fun at people with birth defects. Sure the Farrellys are best known for their over-the-top, often offensive, gross-out humour (Something About Mary, Dumb & Dumber, Shallow Hal), but all that is dispersed with, in this charmer of a film about conjoined twins Walt (Greg Kinnear) and Bob Tenor (Matt Damon).
Not that Stuck On You isn't funny. It may not be as outrageous as their previous work, but there are laughs aplenty, and most importantly the film is chock full of likeable characters you actually care about.
Of course having two fantastic actors to play the leading characters is a big help. Greg Kinnear and Matt Damon are totally believable as the brothers who are joined at the waist, (and yes, I wondered why they couldn't be separated and an explanation is soon forthcoming).
While most people would find such a situation very disabling, Walt and Bob use it to their advantage. Working as a team they have become sporting legends in their home town of Martha's Vineyard and their Quickee Burger restaurant (where if it's not delivered in three minutes your order is free) is a raging success. But Walt has been bitten by the acting bug and although it takes some persuading, he manages to talk his much shyer Bob into moving to Hollywood so he can pursue his dream of becoming an actor.
Such an outrageous premise is handled brilliantly by writers/directors Peter and Bobby Farrelly. The sweet goofiness of Stuck on You is totally endearing and while their condition often lands them in hilarious situations Walt and Bob always come out on top, making them true winners.
As for the support cast, Cher and Meryl Streep are a riot playing themselves and you would be hard-pressed to find anybody more adorable than Eva Mendes as the ditzy and very perky April. Seymour Cassel is also wonderful as Walt's dodgy agent Morty O'Reilly, but it's Kinnear and Damon who really shine. Their subtle (not a word usually associated with the Farrelly brothers) depiction of brotherly love combined with a consistently humorous and clever script makes Stuck On You a very satisfying and enjoyable viewing experience.
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