User Reviews

I went into the cinema with friends and said: "It's a Farrelly Brothers film; you can guess the level of humour." There's Something About Mary I love, but let's face it -- the humour is quite crass, even if the movie does have some heart. So I expected another movie with jokes in bad taste, and lots of humour at the expense of conjoined twins. At least this is how the film has marketed it. However, it couldn't be further from the truth. What has been marketed is quite different to what the film is about.

Whilst the film does have humour -- some movements hilariously funny -- this film is at heart a light drama. And this is by certainly no means a bad thing. When I expected low-IQ humour, what I got was just a really engrossing tale of two brothers who just happen to be conjoined. The chemistry between Damon and Kinnear is just perfect, and the relationship between the brothers (no doubt written from experience by the Farrelly Brothers) was wonderful.

Fox's marketing treatment of the film is appalling. In the trailer, Matt Damon's character says: "We're not Siamese, we're American," and the trailer plays it like he is stupid. Whereas in fact, when watching the film, the context is very different -- he's reacting with indignation, and in defence of their conjoined nature. This is indicative of the entire film. Never is their conjoined-nature used for humour in a bad way.

Throw away what you've seen in the trailers, or what you think the film is about. Go and see this movie that has its heart so very much in the right place -- a great antidote to so many Hollywood films that have the soul of a stone. I don't normally get sentimental with films. I'm the type of viewer that laughs when Jack dies at the end of Titanic. But I went away from Stuck On You knowing I'd seen a very special film indeed. Highly recommended.

Bob (Matt Damon) and Walt (Greg Kinnear) are conjoined twins (joined at their lower trunks--they share a liver) from Massachusetts. They own a burger joint named "Quickie Burger" and Walt has a love of acting. Walt decides to move to California to try his luck at the big time, and although Bob is initially reluctant, he also has a beautiful "Internet pal" in California who he's been talking to for more than three years.

Compared to some of directors Bobby and Peter Farrelly's other films, such as Dumb and Dumber, There's Something About Mary, and Me, Myself And Irene, we could say that the humor in Stuck On You is much more subtle. That fact may be off-putting to viewers who come to Stuck On You primarily as fans of the Farrelly Brothers' previous work. There are still outrageous gags here, but they tend to be funnier if you exercise your intellect a bit, and believe it or not they are more rooted in reality than some other Farrelly Brothers films. If you are familiar with Daisy and Violet Hilton's story, for example--they were infamous sideshow performers who were conjoined twins--you'll note similarities, such as how they approached relationships with persons of the opposite sex.

Like much of the Farrelly Brothers other work, however, Stuck On You is as heartwarming as funny, and on one level, it's primarily a very odd romance film. It also seems that perhaps this is the most personal of their films so far, and it may very well be a depiction of their love for each other as brothers. That also gives Stuck On You a slightly more serious edge, but one that works very well. This is a quality drama in addition to being a comedy leaning towards absurdism. That may sound like a strange combination, but it flowed smoothly for me as a viewer.

The performances by Damon and Kinnear are on target, and their love interests, May (Wen Yann Shih) and April (Eva Mendes) are intriguing and not at all clichéd. The extended cameos by Cher and Meryl Streep, as themselves, are very entertaining, and the supporting cast is excellent.

Let's get the obvious out of the way: conjoined twins are always identical. Stuck on You is a fictional movie, not a documentary. So, relax and enjoy it. It's very funny, it's as real as it can be, and it's not offensive. Greg Kinnear and Matt Damon work as short-order cooks in a hamburger joint, and when a snobby customer insults one of their other, mentally handicapped, workers ("Keep the freaks in the back") he gets thrown out of the restaurant. The Farrelly brothers don't exploit people with physical or mental handicaps, as anyone who's seen Shallow Hal knows. This movie doesn't make fun of conjoined twins. It's a simple story about two brothers who love each other but also want to live their own lives.

Greg is the outgoing brother, and Matt is the shy brother. When Greg performs onstage, Matt dresses in black and hides from the tight spotlight. While Greg hits on girls at the bar, Matt prefers the safety of an online relationship. The way they're able to make their lives work and keep up a positive attitude is truly remarkable, and they have such a sweet, brotherly chemistry together. Sometimes they get in little spats, but they don't last long because, quite frankly, they can't. "Don't walk away from me!" is a laugh line, but it's also true. When you're stuck (physically or not) with someone, you've got to forgive them and rely on love overpowering everything.

As hilarious and entertaining as the movie would be if the brothers stayed in New England, the plot moves them to California, as Greg decides to pursue his love of acting in Hollywood. As you can imagine, he gets tons of doors slammed in his face. Matt has his own challenge in LA as well: his online friend, Wen Yann Shih, lives there, so as soon as he gets up the courage, he can meet her face to face. Eva Mendes is one of their new neighbors, and she's as cute as a button in this movie. Cher also has a supporting role, and she gets to play a caricature of herself.

I know the preview looks silly, and I know the basic premise is medically incorrect. But it's very funny and teaches some sweet lessons. Life is what you make it, and love (not just romantic) conquers all. You'll get to hear Greg Kinnear bust out a hilarious, jazzy version of "Summertime" alongside Meryl Streep, who also enjoys a funny cameo. And you'll never be able to talk about Meryl Streep without calling her "Meryl Streel" again. Trust me. It's been over ten years, and I haven't been able to stop.

To be honest, I am still a little amazed at how much I liked this film. I resisted seeing it for a long time because the concept sounded so offensive. But offensive is the last word I would use to describe this movie. Hilarious would be more accurate. The conjoined twin thing never feels like fodder for cheap jokes. Yes, it plays prominently in the plot, but it just never feels like you are laughing at them, only with them. There is genuine affection for the two main characters, played expertly by Damon and Kinnear, that really shines thru. To be absolutely honest, a lot of what makes this film so incredible is hard (for me, at least) to describe. All I can say is that it's funny, it's touching, it's a bit of Farrelly brothers magic. See it, you won't regret it.

This turned out to be a surprisingly effective comedy. Okay, sure, you can say that a movie that pokes fun at conjoined twins is in poor taste, but there's nothing malicious about it -- it feels, if you can believe it, genuine.

You really get a sense of the tenderness and the bond that has developed between the two brothers. Of course, as you'd expect from the Farrelly brothers, it's laugh-out-loud funny. As you might not expect, there's not really any gross-out humor: it's more "Hal" than "Mary". If you can't tell, I was pleasantly surprised by this movie.

Some gag highlights: Cher with her boyfriends, Matt Damon's stage fright, Greg Kinnear in a animal costume.

In Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, the conjoined twins Bob (Matt Damon) and Walt (Greg Kinnear) have a successful fast food place and are beloved by the local citizens. The shy Bob has a crush on May (Wen Yann Shih), who corresponds with him through Internet, but does not know that he has a Siamese twin brother. Walt decides to move to Los Angeles and become an actor in Hollywood. Once in Hollywood, they meet April (Eva Mendes), an aspirant actress who lives in the same hotel and becomes their closest friend. Walt finds a spot in a TV series with Cher, an arrogant actress, who wants to break her contract with the network using Walt. However, they are not happy in Hollywood and miss their small town. 'Stuck On You' is a cult-movie, directed by the Farrelly brothers and having the participation of famous persons, such as Meryl Streep (uncredited), Cher and Griffin Dunne. The story is hilarious and it is grateful to see Cher making jokes with her behavior. Greg Kinnear has an excellent performance in the role of the Siamese brother of Matt Damon's character. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): 'Ligado em Você' ( 'Connected to You')

The Farrelly Brothers' "Stuck On You" is sincere drama with lots of heart -- of course, along with their smart quips and earnest observations not diminishing. I even gone teary-eyed towards the end. Bobby and Peter Farrelly brothers wrote, directed and produced this movie and they are never sloppy. There is much attention to detail and exudes empathy and earnestness. (I'd say their 2001 production of "Shallow Hal," with Jack Black and Gwenyth Paltrow, contained moments of poignancy also.)

Watching Matt Damon (as Bob) and Greg Kinnear (as Walt) single-handedly flipping burgers and buns in syncopated rhythm -- 'tis an acrobatic act in itself! (The art of 'Quickie Burgers in less than 30 seconds' is such a theme!) The pairing is godsend. Both Damon and Kinnear are talented actors who had many fascinating roles. Kinnear's portrayal of Bob Crane ("Hogan's Heroes") in Paul Schrader's "Auto Focus" 2002 has pretty much established him -- since his debut role in Sydney Pollack's remake of "Sabrina" 1995 and coming through acting opposite Jack Nicholson in Albert Brooks' "As Good As It Gets" 1997 -- as one who can handle roles in depth. Damon, besides his writing quality, has shown his versatile capability in Ed Zwick's "Courage Under Fire" 1996 (psychological/military), John Dahl's "Rounders" 1998 (intense/suspense), Kevin Smith's "Dogma" 1999 (fun/satire), Anthony Minghella's "The Talented Mr. Ripley" 1999 (multiple personality/mystery), Billy Bob Thornton's "All the Pretty Horses" 2000 (romance/western), Doug Liman's "The Bourne Identity" 2002 (action/thriller), Steven Soderbergh's remake of "Ocean Eleven" (ensemble cast/heist), and Gus Van Sant's "Gerry" 2002 (mystical/hypnotic) which Damon scripted and acted with Casey Affleck -- yes, he can handle any role, indeed.

The story introduces, matter of factly, the things these two stuck together brothers do in their everyday life -- it's down to earth and comes across downright normal. The plot evolves when Walt wants to pursue his acting career, just like any Hollywood dreams and Bob wants his brother to succeed. The Farrelly brothers can sure weave a heartwarming story, and here they follow through the emotional curve and happenings (cause and consequences) between these two brothers, and their friends and neighbors along the way. It's a thoughtful and creative script, and the brothers (almost a pun here) manage to include a musical, too. Cher is in a supporting role playing her fun self. The two corresponding girl friend roles are played delightfully by Eva Mendes as April, and tenderly by Wen Yann Shih as May. Veteran actor Seymour Cassel has a riotous time with his wig. There's a heartfelt cameo by Meryl Streep -- it's beyond being brief. The use of songs and lyrics was complementary to the various moods at hand. (Gilbert O'Sullivan's 1970 hit "Alone Again, Naturally" included.) From the production notes, we learned that the conjoint-ness was made possible by a makeup team led by Tony Gardner, special makeup designer, who collaborated with the Farrelly's before -- he enabled Gwenyth Paltrow's 300-lbs physique in "Shallow Hal". Damon and Kinnear were 'stuck together' 14 hours a day for 3 months. It is amazing how Farrelly brothers and their capable filmmaking friends and collaborators realized this genuinely caring human drama-comedy. It's guaranteed enjoyable movie experience for everyone.

*** out of ****

Well, it had to happen sooner or later. The Farrelly Brothers had to mature (somewhat) at some point and make a film that didn't rely on sex or gross-out jokes. That is apparently the case with Stuck On You, the Farrellys latest and tamest, but it's also one of their sweetest and funniest films to date.

Bob and Walt Tenor (Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear) are conjoined twins who've spent their whole lives in Martha's Vineyard. Bob is the owner of a burger restaurant and Walt is an actor who performs plays for the town's audience, but he has bigger ambitions; he wants to be a Hollywood actor, much to the chagrin of Bob, who suffers from a distinct case of stagefright. But after some discussion and compromise, they agree to move to L.A. and start a new life for themselves.

Upon arrival, Bob and Walt meet the friendly but ditzy April (Eva Mendes), one of their neighbors in the apartment they've just moved into. Bob even meets his internet pen-pal May (Wen Yann Shih), but because he's never told her he has a conjoined twin, he has to "bring" along Walt on their first date together. As for Walt's Hollywood dreams, after some initial lack of success, he's chosen by Cher herself to co-star with her on her new show, "Honey and the Beaze," in an attempt by Cher to sabotage her own series. But the show is an unexpected success thanks to Walt's burgeoning popularity, which puts a crimp in his relationship with Bob.

Reviewing comedies has always been a bit difficult for me, which is why I usually stick to the stuff that I find easier to write about (action/adventure, horror, drama, anything but comedy), but given all the knocks this film has taken (particularly the fact that barely anybody saw it in theaters) I felt a slight sense of obligation to mention that Stuck On You is the funniest and most touching comedy I've seen in recent memory.

This is not to say that the film always had me choking with laughter (though a scene involving a guy in front of his typewriter did get the biggest laugh out of me all year), but rather that it consistently delivered smiles, chuckles, and solid laughs without ever bogging down, no easy feat for a movie that runs for just under two hours.

Aside from the lack of sexual humor, there's a major difference between the style of comedy the Farrellys employ here than in some of their prior films. Whereas many their previous works have often made fun of the people that suffer from certain "disorders," Stuck On You presents us with two friendly, easy-going guys who've grown accustomed to their situation and choose not to see their conjoined liver as a handicap. Rather, the film derives its humor from the way "outsiders" view their condition.

In the film's two lead roles, Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear boast the kind of comic chemistry that most actors can only dream of. Damon, in particular, excels by taking the more "straight man" role, where he's not actually aiming for any laughs but still gets them anyway, maybe even more than the typically hilarious Kinnear. Watching these two guys stuck together reminds me why I find them two of the most likable actors in Hollywood, even when most of Kinnear's characters are generally abrasive losers (but not in this case). It is, in fact, Damon and Kinnear that make the film as wonderfully entertaining as it is. Had not even half of the jokes worked as well as they did, their performances would still warrant this movie a passable recommendation.

Stuck On You doesn't always juggle its various subplots perfectly; while Wen Yann Shih does play well into the film, a lot of brief cameos and a wide assortment of characters aren't meshed in as well. Worst of all is Cher, who's neither funny nor particularly convincing as the "bitch" she's made out to be. I have no idea if this says more about her personality or her acting skills.

Most of the Farrellys comedies generally tend to dissipate in the last half-hour or so, replacing its humor with more sincere attempts at trying to make their irascible and/or "cad-like" protagonists learn a lesson or two. The magic of Stuck On You is that its protagonists are always the same throughout, making no genuine "it's a miracle!" revelations about themselves at the last minute; after all, brotherly love is still brotherly love.

When the last twenty minutes threaten to devolve into sentimental clap-trap, the Farrellys punch in the necessary humor that defuses any of the building sap (spoiler:I think my favorite scene in the whole film is when Bob and Walt re-unite after parting their separate ways, in a scene that's both hilarious and touching), making the film sweet without getting too sweet. The Farrellys have made a lot of funny movies, but this is the first of theirs I can recommend to just about anyone.

This was one of my top films for 2003. In general I am not a fan of the Farelly brothers, but I had enjoyed Shallow Hal, and Stuck on You got good reviews from our local paper, which is rare. One thing that had impressed me about Shallow Hal is that the things that you would think were completely illogical were addressed reasonably. The most obvious thought with the casting was that Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear are not even that close in age. Sure enough, early in the film they explain that Matt's character has most of the liver, so Greg's character is aging faster. I don't know if it is scientifically sound, but it works in the context of the film. That is one thing that is nice about the movie. The film has plenty of sight gags and easy humor, but there are also obscure references and delightful surprises that remind you that the film has a brain. It also has a heart, and Damon and Kinnear have a nice brotherly rapport.

Of the supporting cast, Eva Mendes is easily the most fun, and gets the best lines. There are also enjoyable turns with Meryl Streep, Griffin Dunne, and Cher starts out as her own worst caricature, but ends up showing a heart as well. Many other familiar faces pop up, including people you have seen as bit parts in the directors' other films.

Finally, I have to say I was really impressed with the connection between the two bodies. Very realistic looking make-up job.

I was worried with the 5.6 rating this was going to be average at best but it's so well acted and delivered I can't understand who didn't like it. It avoids cheap jokes at the expense of the brother's conjoined condition yet delivers laugh after laugh in a good-natured and fun way. Damon and Kinnear deliver high quality character depth with warmth and charm, well above midnight double feature level and the star cast nods are icing on the cake. The film is just good fun all the way through. Well worth the time to watch it and it seems it is a somewhat overlooked classy film.

Going into this movie i expected another typical Farrelly movie, fearing i might hate it because the past years i haven't been such a big fan of dumb comedies, but this is actually very different, it is definitely a comedy, and it has a lot of small sketches that can crack you up, but underneath all the comedy they really managed to create a film with personal meaning, moral, and most important in this movie is the warm feeling you get off it.

What saves this movie really is the slight seriousity below the comedy, the movie does never try to be stupid and it works all the way through, you get really personal with the two main characters, who btw does an outstanding job, both of them are great in their roles, and i think it's good to see Matt Damon showing his potential, once again, in a very different genre than his former work.

The strength of the movie really is all these small sketches, there are so many, and they are just funny, every single one of them, how they work together, it's just so well made, small jokes that you may forget fast, but at the time they work, and the fight in the disco was just so great hehe, i couldn't help it, i loved it, the movie made me laugh, just as i thought i would never find a movie again that could make me laugh, i think it's nice to see that there are still comedies that are based on the comedy, that are funny without being dumb. The problem the later years i think have been the mass flood of stupid comedy shows where the fun part is based on disgusting crap, this movie really proofs that there is still a market for loose laid back comedies that are based on good humour rather than dumb humour, The farrely brothers truly rock!

8/10

There's something about this `Stuck on You' that sticks to me after my initial impression that the Farrelly Brothers have created another inane comedy to compete with their equally dubious `Dumb and Dumber' franchise, `Shallow Hal, ' and `There's Something about Mary,' among others. That something is taking a story about goofy conjoined twins (Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear), tossing in bathroom and masturbation jokes, and then seeing a basic metaphor about the loss people feel when separated from another human being with whom they have spent their lives.

I commend the Farrellys because `Stuck on You' does not play for the broadest laughs but gently lampoons pretentious Hollywood and overtly praises the sincere emotions of two linked humans and the New England town that loves them regardless of their disability. I liked the connection of two innocent, loving brothers, who miss each other after separation. I liked botoxed Cher's presence to emphasize the decayed humanity of L.A., which sees clearly the business profit in deformity.

On another allegorical level, the twins could be the projection of the Farrellys themselves, going to Hollywood to exploit its penchant for seizing on the flavor of the month, regardless of its incorrectness or inhumanity and facing their own eventual split (Bobby is considering cutting back on their productions). The Farrellys are not the Coens, whose satire is more Kaufmans' `Adaptation' (Even if the brother is only imagined) than Zuckers' `Airplane.' But the Farrellys' five major motion pictures make them as bankable as any other successful brothers in the business.

Seeing diva Cher make fun of herself and Meryl Streep cutup as co-star with Kinnear in a musical stage production of `Bonnie and Clyde'(Think `Springtime for Hitler') are a couple of reasons to see this film. The best reason, however, is to enjoy the lighthearted interaction of two brothers who learn that nature's cruel marriage of their bodies gave them the best emotional marriage of their lives. The Farrellys have confirmed the Karl Menninger belief that `to know one another well enough should not be to hate one another the more but to love one another the more.'

Even those of us not conjoined could learn about brotherly love from `Stuck on You.'

Stuck On You is a great comedy movie with a well written storyline that is filled with plenty of hilarious and cringe worthy scenes and a cast that clearly had a lot of fun starring in this movie.I am a huge fan of the Farrelly brothers,and while I certainly don't think this movie is anywhere near as memorable as movies like Dumb and Dumber and There's Something About Mary,it still is packed with plenty of moments that will make you know it is definitely a Farrelly brothers movie,and it had me laughing all the way through.I was surprised that they got Matt Damon to be in this,it's nothing I like what he has done before and nothing he will ever do again,but it was great to see him take on something very different,and the chemistry between him and Greg Kinnear is what makes this movie.Stuck On You is certainly not the Farrelly brothers finest movie,but I would still recommend it to fans and to anyone looking for a good comedy.

Two Siamese twins find each other "separating" when they learn that they have two very different dreams after one brother forces to other to go to LA with him in order to pursue an acting career.

Best Performance: Greg Kinnear Worst Performance: Cher

O.K. lets start with the word hilarious. Can I say hilarious? Well, I just did. This movie was damned funny. The Farrely brothers do it again. They definitely have this comedy thing licked.

"Stuck on You" was a nice meld of physical comedy and scripted comedy. And this was one of those movies that could not have been funny without absurd scenarios such as the completely ignoring of the other half by dates or other people when it called for it. This was one of the Farrely bros. cleaner comedies and it still maintained a funny edge. Also, after watching this movie, you look up and realize that there is a fairly touching story to it as well. Sign me up for the next Farrely Brothers production.

Parts of this movie had me howling, although I'll warn you beforehand it's not like the other Farrelly bros films "There's Something About Mary" or "Dumb and Dumber". The laughs here are a lot cleaner, less edgy and pretty family friendly for the most part. Overall, the film is much more subtle, which is either good or bad depending on how you like your comedies.

The humour here isn't as slapstick & madcap as you might expect from a movie about conjoined twins. Instead it's more subtle, almost like a Christopher Guest film ("Best in Show", "Waiting for Guffman"). For example one of the best gags is the idea that these conjoined twins (by definition, fraternal twins) look nothing alike. Can Matt Damon & Greg Kinnear look any LESS alike? There's currently an 8-page thread in the discussion board where people think it's a loophole, but ya just gotta smack your forehead. The film has a lot of gags like that where no punchline is required; it's just the situational weirdness that makes us laugh, if you're tuned in to it. Another subtle yet funny example is the way Eva Mendes reacts upon learning that the two are conjoined twins. Contrast this with the way Wenn Yan Shih reacts, and you have some comedy gold right there.

If you like subtle humour, I think you'll like this film as well as the underratted knee-slappers "Color Me Kubrick" with John Malkovich, the classic "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" with Michael Caine & Steve Martin, and a funny Mexican film I saw recently called "Casi Divas". These films may not have you convulsing in laughter, but afterwards I guarantee you'll say to yourself, "Dang that was funny."

I'm actually a big Farrelly Brothers fan (and not just because they're from Rhode Island). So, it's with great reluctance that I write a less than stellar review of "Stuck On You".

It's not a horrible film, but like many recent Farrelly releases it's muddled and illustrates a tug of war between the movies the Farrellys want to make the and movies the Farrelly's fans want them to make.

"Stuck On You" tells the tale of Bob and Walt Tenor, conjoined twins who live a good, peaceful life on Nantucket Island. That is until Walt (played by Greg Kinnear) catches the acting bug and wants to move to LA. The story and gags from there mostly revolve around a fish-out-of-water story (but two fish joined at the side) and the brothers' ongoing ignorance of their own condition.

At one point, Bob (played by Matt Damon) tells Walt that he'll never make it in acting. Why? Because he needs a better tan. Though these aren't the idiot gags that we all enjoyed in "Dumb & Dumber". In fact, both of the brothers are very bright. Their ignorance is more a function of their being so close (physically and emotionally) for such a long period of time and because back home everyone accepted them completely. They've become blind to their own handicap.

It's a nice message and it is delivered poignantly at times. More often, though, we're hammered with it over and over again while the Farrellys do their best to make the movie look more like one of their more celebrated, more tasteless, and funnier movies like "Dumb & Dumber", "Something About Mary", or "Me, Myself and Irene".

In all of the latter movies, there was no illusion that we were there primarily there for the gutter chuckles, but each movie also had characters we really liked. Let's face it. We were all rooting for Lloyd and Harry in "Dumb and Dumber" even if they were morons.

In "Stuck On You", the main characters are all a lot flatter than what we've seen before. Plus, one of the most disappointing aspects in "Stuck On You" is the poor use of the minor characters. In previous movies we got some of our biggest laughs from the sideline characters, while in "Stuck On You" they're used mostly as window dressing. Eva Mendes is primarily a cleavage delivery device in "Stuck On You", which is a shame because she's not a bad actress and she could have some comedic chops.

How are Greg Kinnear and Matt Damon in this film? They both do as good as can be expected. We're not used to seeing Damon in comedic films (his last was "Dogma"), and I think he does comedy very well. I'm reluctant to comment directly on their performances because it's not fair. The characters are flat and that's not their fault.

Sadly, this isn't a fluke for the Farrellys. It's part of an ongoing trend. Their animated movie, "Osmosis Joe", more closely resembled a feature-length public health announcement starring Chris Rock and Bill Murray. "Shallow Hal" dealt with superficiality in much heavier, dramatic tones than we were led to believe in the movie's trailers.*

In "Stuck On You", the Farrellys try to swerve back to their poop-and-fart-joke roots, but deep down you can tell they want to make more serious, thematic movies.

I would have no problem if the Farrellys decided to do a more serious, dramatic film. I would also have no problem if the Farrellys decided to do more locker-room humor comedies. But I do have a problem with them trying to do both at the same time. It's just not working.

* NOTE - While I'm not shopping for the DVD, I did enjoy "Shallow Hal" once I realized (and accepted) that the movie was a lot heavier than the trailers depicted. That said, there were a lot of people in the cinema who were expecting something like "Dumb & Dumber" and they were plenty unhappy about it. I don't blame them.

Stuck on You is a light sweet comedy. It takes a while to get going. Usually comedies are based on people insulting each other or being cruel to each other. This one is about conjoined twins who are kind and considerate to each other and to everyone else. It is a wonderful movie to take your kids to. These two are great role models. I have never seen a movie about conjoined twins, so all the gags were fresh for me. There is so much novel comic potential. My jaw dropped a number of times at the acrobatic skill of Greg Kinnear and Matt Matt Damon. I can't see how they could have done it with stunt doubles. They do an eye popping burger making ballet reminiscent of Tom Cruise in Cocktail. They have a fight that would put the Chinese martial artist dance moves to shame. Cher plays herself and spoofs herself. Meryl Street plays herself and spoofs her Mama Mia appearance in a musical Bonnie and Clyde. It was a romp and so much fun. The main plot as based around one of the twins wanting to be an actor while the other finds the idea abhorrent. They find ways to accommodate. It is a beautiful movie because the brothers so enjoy each other and care for the other's welfare. Their good will tends to rub off on everyone they encounter, in unexpected ways.

A great comedy, with a great script, wholesome message and a new, original story. Nuff said.

Bobby and Peter Farrelly, the kings of gross-out comedy, select a typically 'taboo' subject for their sixth collaboration, but shy away from inserting any real gross-out gags (when, let's face it, the opportunities are plentiful) choosing instead to journey into a clichéd area of sentimentality that leave this comedy feeling as bland as any other second-rate comedy coming out of Hollywood these days.

Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear play the conjoined twins – presumably Ben was busy – and, while Damon makes a good job of playing Bob, the more shy and less assertive of the pair, Kinnear's more confident twin Walt is played a little too broadly at times. Walt has dreams of being an actor and, against his better nature, Bob agrees to go along with Walt's plans to try and make it in Hollywood because his 'internet buddy' May (Wen Yann Shih) also lives in California. Before you know it Walt is starring opposite Cher in a hit TV show, but Bob is distraught when May finds it difficult to come to terms with his condition.

You get the impression that the Farrelly's lost their nerve with this one the jokes are so bland. Bob and Walt are treated like just a usual couple of good old boys by nearly everyone around them, both at their hometown of Martha's Vineyard and in Hollywood, and never have to suffer the curious stares of strangers. In fact, thanks to some frankly laboured and unfunny manipulations by the brothers, Bob's girlfriend May doesn't discover they are joined at the waist until after a couple of dates. The jokes stay mostly on safe ground; some are clever, a few obvious, a few more just don't work at all. Seymour Cassel scores as Walt's sleazy agent but it's Kinnear, disguised as a giant teddy bear to fool May, who gets the cleverest line when, after she's gone declares "I don't want to be an actor who takes on a role and looks like an ass." Cher also acquits herself well, sending up her diva reputation with good grace, and there's a terrific fight scene in a nightclub to the strains of "Do the Hustle." Other than that – and the frankly wonderful Eva Mendes – there's little else of note in this one. Let's hope the Farrelly's either get their bad-taste heads back pretty soon or steer clear of the gross-out sub-genre for a while

There's a recurring pattern with Farrelly Brothers films that I've noticed over the past few years. The ones that get the most recognition, like Dumb and Dumber and There's Something About Mary, are decent, fairly-capable comedies, but after a second viewing they don't truly hold up. The more subtle films that waltz on by, boasting a strange but viable screen presence, like this and Fever Pitch, are the ones that are truly the most enjoyable.

Stuck on You is a weird film, but one with humor and a soul. The story focuses on Bob (Damon) and Walt (Kinnear), a pair of conjoined twins who are stuck together at the hip. Bob is one of low ambitions. He is comfortable with the idea of staying at his personal burger joint, working orderly with his brother. Walt dreams big. He wants to become an actor, but feels that Bob is his unintentional albatross when trying to get work.

The problem is whenever one has an idea, regardless if they like it or not, they are going with the other. They could get separated, but there's only a fifty-fifty chance that Walt would survive because of the majority of their liver being on Bob's side. Walt decides that after being a long-suffering actor in Massachusetts he should try his luck in Hollywood, and Bob reluctantly agrees to follow him.

After a string of failed gigs, Walt becomes acquired by Cher, and this leads to his success on a network drama, at the same time trying to hide the fact that he is a conjoined twin to his audience.

Stuck on You is a rare comedy, and it reminds me a lot of Adam Sandler's surprisingly good 50 First Dates. That was a film that balanced comedy and seriousness perfectly, occasionally becoming very sad and sullen. This film is the same way. Yes, it likes to make a few off-color jokes about two people being conjoined for life, but it has a side of humanity to it, one rarely explored. It isn't all fun and games, and it isn't all tightly wound shlock.

Damon and Kinnear work and play well off of each other, and the cameos are always fun to watch as well. The wonderful Meryl Streep is nicely placed here, in a scene that is delightfully witty and incredibly unexpected. Even the good ol' Frankie Muniz shows up in one great scene as well.

Rarely is a subject taken with such a human approach, and Stuck on You succeeds because it doesn't try to hard. It's premise is mildly poignant, a tad goofy, but it shockingly works. This is the last film I was expecting to recommend, but honestly, I've seen films with potential quickly fall down, and films with utterly none soar past expectations. Stuck on You struck a point of indecisiveness with me upon approaching it. Glad I just ran with it.

Starring: Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, Eva Mendes, Wen Yann Shih, and Pat Crawford Brown. Directed by: Bobby Farrelly and Peter Farrelly.