It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz dazzled us with this R-rated romantic comedy that was both raunchy and heartfelt — a difficult line to toe. The infamous “hair gel” scene is to this day one of the funniest things ever put on film, though surprisingly, Diaz, Stiller and the studio were hesitant about shooting it. The image of Diaz with her hair sticking up has become iconic.
But if you were hoping for a sequel like Dumb and Dumber To, also from directors Peter and Bobby Farrelly, don’t hold your breath. Diaz has retired from acting, so even if the Farrelly brothers wanted to make one (they don’t), they’d have to find a new actor for one of the lead roles.
So, let’s wax nostalgic about the movie that set the precedent for all the R-rated comedies that would come after Mary. This hilarious film was truly a game-changer.
Casting Ben Stiller Wasn’t a Sure Thing
There were three actors who were considered for the role of Ted Stroehmann: Owen Wilson, Jon Stewart and Stiller. The directors fought hard for Stiller, who was untested as a romantic lead at the time. A year later, Stewart would go on to create The Daily Show.
Brett Favre Was 3rd Choice to Play Mary’s Ex
Bob Farrelly, a big-time New England Patriots fan, revealed on the Rich Eisen Show that quarterback Drew Bledsoe was his first choice to play Mary's ex. Forty-niners quarterback Steve Young was second choice, but he worried an R-rated film would tarnish his reputation as a devout Mormon. So eventually, they settled on Brett Favre.
Diaz & Stiller Were Worried About the ‘Hair Gel’ Scene
Stiller told The New York Times that he didn’t believe that any guy wouldn’t feel the semen dripping off his ear unless he somehow had lost sensitivity in his ear. Diaz thought it was just too gross to be funny. They shot the scene with and without the stuff in her hair just in case the joke didn’t go over well with test audiences. Turns out audiences loved it and the scene stayed in.
It Took 6 Months for Fox to Green Light the Film
Fox wanted to take out the hair gel scene, but the Farrelly brothers insisted on keeping it in the script. Sometimes, taking risks brings big rewards.
The Movie Studio Wanted a Sequel
20th Century Fox wanted to make There’s Something More About Mary, but the Farrelly brothers said no despite making a sequel to Dumb and Dumber in 2014, on its 20th anniversary. Instead, they went on to write/direct Me, Myself and Irene in 2000.
Matt Dillon & Cameron Diaz Were an Item
Having met while both were making movies in Minnesota (she was there shooting Feeling Minnesota, and he was shooting Beautiful Girls), Diaz and Dillon, who played Pat, were in a relationship for three years when they made Mary. They soon broke up after the film wrapped.
Peter Farrelly Checked in at Local Movie Theaters
Michael S. Palmer was a kid serving popcorn at the concessions stand at a movie theater in Cape Cod back in 1998 when two guys began to question him about the movie. The guys asked, "How's it doing?" and "What are people saying?" Palmer replied that he "thought it was going to be a huge word of mouth hit." The men then introduced themselves as codirectors Peter Farrelly and producer Bradley Thomas.
The Character Warren Was Based on a Real Guy
According to Peter Farrelly, “He’s based on a guy we grew up with named Warren who lived in our street who was intellectually challenged. He hung around because he was our friend’s older brother. He was several years older than us but he’d play hockey with us and he would hang out and we loved Warren and we’d joke around with him."
The Zipper Scene Is Based on a Real Experience
The parents of the Farrelly brothers once had to help a teenager who caught his you-know-what in his zipper at one of their parties.
Mooning
Though it was most likely just meant to be a funny prank, one of the Farrelly brothers mooned Diaz and Lin Shaye while filming the scene where they were looking out of the window after Puffy the dog jumped out. Twenty years later, it could be interpreted as a #MeToo moment.
Diaz Is an Excellent Golfer
Though a stuntperson was hired to play Mary golfing, Diaz actually had a better swing than the stuntperson. Dillon, however, wasn’t as skilled at golf despite his father being a golf instructor.
Puffy the Dog
Puffy, the injured pup, was played by a female dog named Slammer but also had at least six prop dogs to fill in when the dog was in a full-body cast.
Shoe Fetish & Bad Skin
Chris Elliott, who played Woogie, added some of his own strangeness to the character by giving him a shoe fetish and really messed-up skin.
Accidents Can Be Funny
After he strapped onto the stretcher, the actors playing paramedics accidentally dropped Stiller. Everyone on set rushed over to make sure Stiller wasn't injured, but the shot was used in the film because it was so funny.
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