New film by Farrelly brothers
offers laughs, little
substance
By Jeff Cantwell
Staff
Writer
 Attending
movies can mean more than just sitting in a dark room watching a 20-foot
screen. With the right crowd, horror movies can be scarier, dramas can
be more intense and in this case, comedies can be funnier.
"Say It Isn't So," the new comedy produced by the
Farrelly brothers ("Something About Mary"), is the ultimate case proving
laughter is contagious.
I saw the movie in a full theater with everyone
rolling in their seats the entire time. With that many people laughing,
it was hard not to laugh, even at jokes that I'm not sure I would have
laughed at in any other situation.
It's the kind of movie that needs to be tested
with a second viewing when it comes to video to see if the comedy is
still funny.
The premise is simple. It's your basic guy meets
girl, guy gets his ear cut off by girl, guy falls in love with girl,
guy finds out girl is his sister story. But the plot is only present
to set up the next joke.
"Say It Isn't So" is what you've come to expect
from any movie involving Peter and Bobby Farrelly. It is filled with
innocent characters and sight gags galore. There is even an obvious
nod toward the hair gel scene from "Mary."
Director J.B. Rogers has worked as an assistant
on every movie the Farrelly's have made, and he has obviously taken
a lesson or two from them.
Rogers uses the shock humor so often found in films
like "Something About Mary" and "Dumb and Dumber," but the humor in
this film only works about half the time. There is also a major editing
mistake near the end that is kind of jarring — just more proof
that the plot is unimportant.
Heather Graham and Chris Klein star, but serve
little purpose. Graham plays the unskilled hairstylist, Jo, who is so
beautiful that men are willing have their hair butchered just to be
in her presence. All Graham's role demands of her is smiling and looking
pretty.
Klein's character, Gilly, has virtually no presence
in this film. He sulks his way through it, whispering his lines and
staring into space with a blank look on his face.
Orlando Jones, the 7 UP guy, makes an appearance
as Gilly's pilot friend with easily removable legs — a fact that
the film never lets you forget. Oscar-winner Sally Field also appears
as Jo's white-trash mother.
"Say It Isn't So" is by no means a good movie.
But it is funny and enjoyable enough to see during a matinee or late
show that doesn't cost $8. Besides, the movie's final twist sent me
home with a smile on my face, which is never a bad thing.
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