Reuben Feffer is a man who never takes a risk in his life. Polly Prince is the opposite: she lives for the moment, and she makes Reuben’s world turn upside down.
That is the setup for Along Came Polly, and it is a promising one. Ben Stiller plays Reuben, a risk assessment expert for a life insurance company. Jennifer Aniston plays Polly, the free spirit who reconnects with Reuben in an art gallery. The film follows Reuben as he tries to change his life from middle-of-the-road to totally-out-there.
Trailer, via Universal Pictures.
Reuben and Polly’s First Meeting
The first date is a disaster. Reuben clogs Polly’s toilet. The second date goes better: they salsa dance, and Reuben even asks Javier to teach him to dance. That lesson pays off when they return to the club, and Reuben surprises Polly.
The problem is that the film never quite commits to Reuben learning to take risks. He keeps getting pulled back into his old careful habits. The movie promises a change but keeps giving Reuben excuses to stay the same.
Lisa Kramer and the Business Plot
Lisa Kramer, played by Debra Messing, is Reuben’s ex-wife. She returns to New York hoping to reconcile with Reuben. Polly is spooked when Reuben refers to her as his girlfriend, and Reuben has to tell Lisa that he does not want her back.
The business subplot, involving Leland Van Lew and the insurance program, is thin. It exists to give Reuben a reason to talk to Leland, but the payoff is thin.
The Rest of the Cast
Philip Seymour Hoffman plays Sandy Lyle, Reuben’s friend. Bryan Brown plays Leland Van Lew, the adventurous CEO. Hank Azaria plays Claude, the scuba instructor who causes the first scene’s trouble. Alec Baldwin plays Stan Indursky, and Michele Lee plays Vivian Feffer.
Missi Pyle plays Roxanne, and Judah Friedlander plays Dustin. Debra Messing plays Lisa Kramer. The cast is full, but not every role gets much to do.
Where the Film Lands
The film was released on January 16, 2004, by Universal Pictures. It received mixed reviews and grossed over $178 million worldwide on a budget of $42 million.
The comedy is uneven. Some jokes land. Some do not. The film never quite settles on what kind of comedy it wants to be: romantic, slapstick, or something in between.
The Verdict
Along Came Polly has a good idea at its center. It is about a man who needs to learn to take risks, and about a woman who is willing to take them. That is a strong premise, but the film never quite follows through on it. The comedy is uneven, the plot is thin, and the film never quite decides what kind of story it wants to be.
This is a film that is pleasant to watch but not memorable. It has moments, and it has a good cast, but it never quite delivers on its promise. It is a film that is worth seeing once, but not a film that demands a return visit.
Key facts:
– Directed by John Hamburg
– Written by John Hamburg
– Runtime 90 minutes
– Released January 16, 2004
– Starring Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston
– Grossed over $178 million worldwide
– Mixed reviews
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