The concept for the film Along Came Polly must have sounded good on paper to the producers because they got two very different stars to come together in a romantic comedy. But the problem is that they crowd each other with their equally large movie star statuses and clashing personas, resulting in absolutely no chemistry. Ben Stiller (The Royal Tenenbaums) needs a woman who loves his loser-type personality and Jennifer Aniston needs someone a bit taller (The Good Girl). Both of these stars fail to fulfill the other's demands. Thus, a month that has become famous for the worst movies of the year continues its trend and features a sub-par romantic comedy.Stiller plays Ruben Feffer, a risk assessor for an insurance company. The catch is Ruben won't take any risks of his own out of fear. He is so cautious that he even refuses to eat mixed nuts at a bar claiming that so many people have touched them that they are flowing with bacteria. Ruben waited for the right girl and thought he found her in Debra Messing (Will & Grace). But, low and behold, he was mistaken. While on their honeymoon, he caught her cheating with a French scuba instructor played by Hank Azaria (The Birdcage).

Ruben is heartbroken, but thanks to his best friend, Sandy, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman (Cold Mountain), he goes to a party and sees Polly-a girl he hasn't seen since she moved away in the seventh grade. Polly, played by Aniston, is a free spirited, risk taker. The combination of her and Ruben is a recipe for disaster, but he falls for her nevertheless. He continues to go on dates with her despite the fact that he gets sick or humiliated on every occasion.

Polly has the makings of a funny romantic comedy like There's Something About Mary, but it fails because the two leads have no chemistry and the gross-out moments seem forced. Fart jokes are past their prime and do not give the movie any charm. The funny moments are provided by Hoffman, who plays a former child basketball star who now can't make a shot if his life depended on it. Hoffman demonstrates his talent by proving he is a true acting chameleon. The other funny moments come from Alec Baldwin (Beetlejuice) who plays Ruben's boss. He gives the most convincing New York Jew impression, proving that he is one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood.

Along Came Polly is directed by John Hamburg, the writer of Meet the Parents and the far superior Zoolander. The film has similar elements to Meet the Parents, but they just aren't as clever. While Stiller is a funny actor, his comedy is tired and too reminiscent of his old work, detracting from much of the silliness. Aniston seems bored in her role, causing the audience to become bored with her as well. She has proved she can act and can be second to a funny man (Bruce Almighty), but she is flat as Polly, as is the film. Polly is a risk that should have never been taken.