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I have to admit to having a "thing" for Ben Stiller, especially after watching his performances in the brilliantly funny 'Zoolander' and the remarkable, off-the-wall 'The Royal Tenenbaums'. And I definitely laughed out loud on more than a few occasions during 'There's Something About Mary'. These days I even find myself watching a film just because Stiller stars in it — with his name in the credits you just know you're in for some good, if slapstick, entertainment.

While his performance in 'Along Came Polly', the latest offering from writer-director John Hamburg, is entertaining enough (he doesn't really have to do much to engage one's funny bone), it's the film's supporting actors, among them Philip Seymour Hoffman, Danny de Vito and 'Will and Grace's' Debra Messing, who steal the show.

Stiller stars in what's billed as a "romantic comedy" alongside everybody's favourite Friend, Jennifer Aniston, but the couple simply don't gel as an item. In fact, they're downright flat together.

The film follows the usual Hamburg ('Zoolander', 'Meet the Parents') formula of off-beat character study, with Stiller playing Reuben, a neurotic (what else!) insurance risk analyst who spends his life weighing up the pros and cons of his every action. While homeymooning he's dumped by his flighty bride (Debra Messing) who runs off with a nudist scuba instructor.

And then... along comes childhood friend Polly. Played by Aniston, she's the very antithesis of Reuben — free-spirited, adventurous and more than a little quirky. And she has a ferret of all things for a pet. Of course, in spite of himself, Reuben finds himself falling for her.

As this all plays out, we find ourselves faced with humour that's mostly contrived, often quite stale, and we're forced to encounter some seriously cringeworthy moments... much of it to do with Stiller's character's tender stomach and some rather feisty curry.

But this aside, and if you can live through all the toilet stuff, there are some redeeming moments too, like when Stiller does his salsa solo, and when Seymour Hoffman (as Reuben's best friend Sandy Lyle) plays both Jesus and Judas in a community production of 'Godspell'.

All in all, it's bound to elicit some laughs, even if it's only for the sheer silliness of the whole thing, or simply to watch Stiller in action again. You could do worse if you're looking for a distraction on a night when the telly's really bad.

For more on the film, visit the official website: http://www.alongcamepolly.com

What the international critics said...

"A hit-and-miss affair with more flat moments than comic ones."
- Kenneth Turan, LOS ANGELES TIMES

"Superlative wasted cast and chamber pot-embarrassing humor."
- Jane Sumner, DALLAS MORNING NEWS

"Unfolds with brisk professionalism and enough smiles to keep you engaged."
- Adam Sternbergh, NATIONAL POST

"Like the rest of today's alleged comedies that are never funny, this one pretends to be hip, but lacks every semblance of intelligence and depends on the basest common instincts in the kindergarten I.Q. for laughs."
- Rex Reed, NEW YORK OBSERVER

"Slight but occasionally riotous."
- Steven Rea, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER