Say It Isn't So

Produced by the Farrelly Brothers and directed by their protégé J. B. Rogers, this is a pale, predictable pretender to the gross-out comedy/semi-sweet romance crown still held by the Farrelly's There's Something About Mary. Limping along on telegraphed bad taste jokes and narcissistic naughtiness, the movie seems to have a scene-by-scene checklist of "Mary" gags to clone (grotesque prosthetic boobs, handicap humor, surprise last-reel celebrity cameo) as it slogs through one of those plots that can only move forward if the characters deliberately avoid simple solutions to moronic misunderstandings. Chris Klein (Election, American Pie) stars as a half-wit orphan whose love for klutzy hair-cutter Heather Graham is tested when bogus adoption records make them think they're brother and sister. Klein discovers the truth and travels cross-country to rescue her before she marries a rich jerk. Not recommended. (R. Blackwelder)