neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Shallow Hal
	Peter & Bobby Farrelly Jack Black, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jason Alexander 2001		Is the latest comedy from gross-out kings Bobby and Peter Farrelly ("There's Something About Mary") really shallow? Not with the depth brought to the project by Jack Black and Gwyneth Paltrow. For a change, the writing/directing Farrelly Bros. have put a kind-hearted love story ahead of lowbrow yucks derived from pathetic losers and bodily functions. There's an unexpected gentleness to the journey of stocky, misguided Hal who, by day, struggles to get ahead in the corporate world and, by night, tries and fails to score with hot babes at the disco. His encounter with motivational speaker Tony Robbins changes everything. Hypnotized to see people's inner beauty, Hal falls for the obese, saintly Rosemary. He's blind to her obvious girth, and his life changes for the better. His dilemma: the hypnosis might wear off. Yes, there are easy fat jokes. Jason Alexander as Hal's pal provides schnook appeal. But Black ("High Fidelity") as Hal and Paltrow (in and out of a fat suit) as Rosemary conquer all.