STUCK ON YOU

US, 2003, 120 minutes, Colour.
Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, Cher, Meryl Streep, Eva Mendes, Seymour Cassell, Jay Leno.
Directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly.

The Farrelly Brothers, Bob and Peter, have built up a reputation over the last ten years of being the comic writers
and directors of questionable, if not bad taste. They have made sport of the dumb and dumber, of the uptight (There's Something About Mary), mental illness (Me, Myself and Irene). Their focus now is on conjoined twins. However, while they do walk a thin line at times, their tone is much gentler this time, even sweet at times, but nonetheless humorous and even challenging.

Because Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear are so engaging as the twins, Bob and Walt, audience sympathy is instantly with them. It comes as rather a shock to hear people refer to them as freaks. We have got to know them so well, we don't think of them as freaks. This is part of the Farrelly technique: to involve us emotionally with 'different' people and then show us how they are derided and discarded so that we see and feel the injustice.

Damon and Kinnear work so well together (in a lot of funny scenes, often with slapstick) so that we share their dilemma when Walt wants to go to Hollywood for an acting career while Bob is prone to panic attacks even when unobtrusively on stage behind Walt. Things work out in Hollywood quite differently from what we might expect as Walt stars with Cher in a terrible TV series called Honey and the Beaze (Bob still there and having panic attacks). Cher gets to send herself up unmercifully.

A nice surprise is co-star Meryl Streep as herself, proving, especially in the grand finale, what a good sport she is.

It is enjoyable to speculate on how Bob and Walt with their being so close and connected, sharing their lives, their
physical, psychological and emotional dependence, indicate how close the Farrellys themselves are. Actually, this is a very nice film.

1. The reputation of the Farrellys, the focus on different, even abnormal situations, their range of humour, questions of good taste? This film, this topic of Siamese twins, humour, sentiment, taste?

2. The theme of twins, the physical connection and the consequences, the psychological and emotional consequences? Siamese - American? Their being called freaks? Society accepting Siamese twins in theory, not in practice? The film showing people trying to cope with Siamese twins?

3. The title, the physical bond between the two? Their acting together, their skills, going into action? The irony and their being separated, the consequences, their wanting to be together?

4. The Martha's Vineyard locations, the homes, the diner, the theatre? The contrast with Los Angeles, the motel, the studios, old people's home, television channels, studios and sets?

5. The characters of Bob and Walt, seeing them as children, joined together, playing together at home, the bonds between the two little boys? Seeing them play sport and the skills to highlight the talent of each - though the two of them boxing, two of them playing football, in the goal? Both being Prom Kings? Walt and his desire to act, his performance as Truman Capote with Bob along with him (suffering from panic attacks)? The opening and the customers wanting the large order within the three minutes for their free lunch? Bob and Walt working together to prepare the hamburgers? Dates, Bob and his awkward and gauche statements, the transition to Walt? The sexual encounter and Bob with his laptop? Their managing, sleeping, showering?

6. Bob, May, the three years internet communication? His falling in love with her?

7. Walt and his wanting to act, the discussions with Bob, Bob and his reluctance? The farewell, going to Los Angeles, their response to arriving in Los Angeles, full of optimism?

8. The two as both ingenuous and optimistic, their over-keen response to the motel, the writer (and his continually being asleep with his tape of typing, the eyes painted on his lids)? The meeting with April, her easy acceptance of them? The agent, going to the old people's home, sleazy deals, contracts, percentages? The phone call in the shower, Walt and his enthusiasm for the job, going to the main studio, being directed to the pornography lot?

9. At the studios, their seeing Meryl Streep, having the conversation with her? The meeting with Cher, her negative response, her seizing the opportunity, the invitation to the job?

10. Cher and her sending herself up, the discussions with her agent, the studio boss, the series "Honey and the Beaze"? Her planning to sabotage the show by hiring the twins? It backfiring, Walt being successful, the good reviews - and the criticism of Cher? The studios, the ratings, variety? Bob and his panic attacks, dressed in blue and the use of the blue screen? The success of the program? The Massachusetts audience watching and enthusiastic?

11. The agent and his ringing about the exposure, their options to deny or to face, their decision to go forward, going on the Jay Leno show, jokes, being forthright, people's response? The ad for the double value? Their becoming celebrities? Public opinion? Cher's response?

12. Walt and his wanting the separation, Bob not wanting it? The issue of the shared liver, the risk to Walt? The decision, the operation, the visit - and their being lost! April and May? The two coming out of the hospital, each of them off-balance and swaying towards the other? The low ratings, the decision to stop the show? Walt and his feeling abandoned, out of work?

13. The character of May, Chinese background, Walt communicating with her, her arrival, going out, the two of them not telling her the truth? Dancing, dining, the car, seeing her to the door? Her visit, seeing them in bed, misjudging them, rushing away? Bob and his being hurt? Her return, her love for Bob, the separation in the hospital, marrying him, finally pregnant?

14. Walt, the decision, the friendship with April and her support? Sitting in the park and leaning on the statue (and the final credits showing that he was a mime student)? Urged to do what he would like to do the most, his return to Massachusetts, the belt around the two of them and their working together in the diner?

15. The theatre, acting, the musical of Bonnie and Clyde? Meryl Streep having said she would like to work at Martha's Vineyard, starring in the musical, her being a good sport and performing in the play? Walt and his singing, happy? Everybody in the audience and their appreciation?

16. The happy ending, audience presuppositions about the freakishness of Siamese twins, learning to appreciate the persons, how they ticket, their relationship with one another, mutual dependence, need for some independence? Appreciating the bonds? Broadening their understanding and sympathy through humour?