Long lost friends in Along Came Polly

Along Came Polly

Director: John Hamburg

Cast: Ben Stiller, Jennifer Aniston, Bryan Brown, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Debra Messing, Alec Baldwin

Cert: 15.

With the long-running TV sitcom coming to its end the cast continues to search for decent big-screen roles; not with any degree of success.

Aniston got herself married to heart-throb Brad Pitt and has managed to find some passable scripts, but she remains just a few steps short of the breakthrough she needs.

This film, which is merely OK, won't do her much harm since it is the sort of romantic comedy which will pass quickly into video oblivion.

Stiller plays an insurance risk analyst, who can't face any risks in his private life. His new wife (Messing) is unfaithful on their honeymoon, he re-meets old school pal (Aniston) and they fall in love, or rather embark on a will they-won't they romance.

Polly is your up-and-at-'em sort of gal, he's your hold-on-now sort of guy and together Aniston and Stiller pass muster as a screen partnership. But the script doesn't push them hard enough, and some of the gags are on the far side of socially correct.

Star Rating: 3/5