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Trivia / There's Something About Mary

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  • Actor-Inspired Element: Woogie's gross facial warts and the shoe fetish were the ideas of Chris Elliott.
  • Career Resurrection:
    • Matt Dillon again became a bankable star after this movie.
    • "Build Me Up Buttercup" and the Foundations were all but forgotten by 1998. This movie put the song back as one of the most beloved of its era.
  • Completely Different Title: The French title is Mary à tout prix, which translates as Mary at all cost.
  • Enforced Method Acting:
    • Ben Stiller's stretcher really was dropped as he was taken to the ambulance.
    • Cameron Diaz and Lin Shaye were mooned by one of the Farrelly brothers during the filming of the scene in which the two actresses were looking downwards out of the window Puffy had jumped out of.
  • Fake American: Brit Lee Evans as Norm, who in turn invokes Fake Brit.
  • In Memoriam: The movie is dedicated to the memory of Ryan Monenote . Ryan's parents were acquaintances of the Farrelly brothers and they dedicated the film to Ryan as a final tribute.
  • Playing Against Type: Matt Dillon had always been known for playing tough guys and rebellious youths in dramas. In this comedy film, he's a slimy private investigator.
  • Real-Life Relative:
    • Cameron Diaz's father was on set during filming, so the Farrellys decided to throw him in the movie. In the scene where Ben Stiller is released from prison after being wrongfully accused of murder, Cameron's dad is the inmate in the front with a beard and long hair jeering at Ben.
    • Docky and his wife are played by the Farrellys' parents. Docky is their dad's nickname.
    • The woman asking about class actions is Bobby Farrelly's wife Nancy.
  • Recycled Script: The dialogue between Mary and Ted about how there aren't enough meats on sticks was originally written for an episode of Seinfeld that never aired. The Farrelly Brothers, who worked on the Seinfeld episode "The Virgin", liked it and bought it for use in the movie.
  • Similarly Named Works: There was a single-issue prequel comic to Shaun of the Dead in 2000 AD also called There's Something About Mary about how Mary became a zombie.
  • Star-Making Role: Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller became bankable leads after the runaway success of this film.
  • Stillborn Franchise: A sequel was planned but never eventuated.
  • Technology Marches On: Nowadays, Ted could just use social media to find out about Mary.
  • Throw It In!:
    • The "Can of whoop ass" line was improvised by Keith David, who ad-libbed most of his lines.
    • Brett Favre came up with the "I'm in town to play the Dolphins, you dumbass" line after being unsatisfied with the scripted lines.
  • What Could Have Been:
    • The film's original ending had Ted getting hit by a bus right after Mary chooses him over her other suitors (basically turning the film into a Shoot the Shaggy Dog story). The Farrelly Brothers decided this would be too dark of a way to end the film, so they went with a more traditional happy ending.
    • Jim Carrey, Jon Stewart and Owen Wilson were considered for Ted.
    • Courteney Cox was considered for Mary.
    • Bill Murray was originally considered for Pat Healy, but the Farrellys thought he was too old for the part. Hank Azaria, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Vince Vaughn were also considered.
    • Chris Farley was considered for Warren. He later died during the time this film was being made.
    • Football player Steve Young was originally was cast to play Mary's boyfriend. He declined due to the movie's crass nature which conflicted with his Mormon faith.
  • Write What You Know: The zipper scene is based on an actual incident when the Farrelly brothers' parents had to help a young man who caught himself in his zipper at one of their sisters' parties.
  • Write Who You Know:
    • Warren is based on the Farrellys' neighbor, Warren Tashjian. He has a cameo later in the movie.
    • Mary's stepdad is based on the Farrellys' father, who would always pull pranks on their sister's dates.

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