Day Six: Shallow Hal

SHALLOW HAL

Starring:
-Jack Black
-Gwyneth Paltrow
-Jason Alexander

Directed by: Bobby & Peter Farrelly

Screenplay Credits: Sean Monyihan, Bobby Farrelly, & Peter Farrelly

MPAA Rating: PG-13 - language and sexual content

Young Hal and his mother Molly Shannon are at the hospital preparing to say goodbye to Hal's father, a nearly dead Reverend. Hal goes in to see him despite the doctor's warning that the Reverend is heavily sedated and not acting like himself. While on his deathbed, Hal's father offers up a wish for his young son: don't settle for mediocre, never marry for love, and find yourself some hot young tail. The Reverend flatlines and young Hal tearfully vows to make his father proud.

Fast forward 20 odd years to Hal dancing in the club and rubbing Butts with Jason Alexander. Both men are smarmy womanizers and best friends who think they're the greatest thing since sliced bread. Bummed after losing a promotion, Hal winds up stuck in an elevator with a self-help guru. Hal takes off his pants and this turns into a personal counseling session. The guru hypnotizes Hal so that whenever he sees a woman, he will see her inner beauty instead of her outward physical appearance. Suddenly, beautiful women start popping up everywhere. At the club, Jason sees Hal dancing with three extremely unattractive crones and tries to rescue his friend. But Hal is in too deep once he bumps into the hottie of hotties, Rosemary (Paltrow). Turns out, she's the bosses daughter and she's practically the perfect woman. She got brains, talent, a good heart, and an awesome personality.

They start hanging out, but Rosemary soon freaks because Hal's always calling her beautiful. The two of them get into a little snit. The next day, Rosemary shows up with coffee and apologizes.

Hal's coworkers accuse him of using Rosemary to advance in the company.

Hal goes on a trip to the mountains with Rosemary and a guy who walks on all fours.

Concerned for his friend (read: concerned for himself) Jason confronts the self help guru and forces him to reveal the secret phrase that will pull Hal out of his trance.

"The brain sees what the heart wants it to feel." - Guru

Meanwhile, Rosemary breaks another in a long line of restaurant booths.

"Don't be embarrassed. It's this flimsy-ass four star restaurant." - Hal

Jason calls Hal and says, "Shallow Hal wants a gal" and for the first time, Hal finally sees what people really look like. He's about to confront Rosemary when Jason swoops in and stops in. Jason fills him in as to what's going on. Hal's neighbor Jill asks him to dinner. Rosemary and her family arrive at the same establishment, and Rosie spots Hal and Jill eating. She's pretty darn upset.

The end gets a little weird. Hal looks for Rosemary in the burn unit and Jason Alexander has a tail. Hal crashes Rosemary's going away party, proves his love, and they drive off into the sunset.

This is a cute movie with some really funny lines. Despite the subject matter, there's nothing really "heavy" about the plot. Things go as you might expect them to. At times I felt as though the gag that Hal was slobbering over all these fat, ugly women ran a little long. Yes, it's the premise of the movie. But one would think the overall focus of the film might shift over a little more into relationship territory than having the audience just sit there watching Gwyneth Paltrow break chairs.

So, good movie for when you don't want to think too hard. I give it a B+