Along Came Polly (2004)
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A risk-averse insurance expert must navigate a chaotic love life when his ex-wife returns and he falls for a woman who lives life on the edge.
The story
Reuben Feffer, a risk assessment expert for a large-life insurance company, finds his life upended during his honeymoon in Saint Barthélemy when his new wife, Lisa, leaves him for a scuba instructor. Returning to New York alone, Reuben attempts to rebuild his life and reconnects with an old classmate, Polly Prince. Despite his preference for safety and her love for risk, the two begin dating. However, the situation becomes complicated when Lisa returns seeking reconciliation, forcing Reuben to navigate the emotional and logistical risks of his new romance while trying to decide which woman truly fits his life.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Reuben Feffer, a risk assessment expert, is on his honeymoon in Saint Barthélemy when his new wife, Lisa, leaves him for a scuba instructor named Claude. Reuben returns to New York and meets his old classmate Polly Prince. Though Reuben is risk-averse and Polly is adventurous, they begin dating. Reuben eventually uses a risk assessment program to determine which woman is the 'least risky' choice, which points toward Polly. However, during a sailing trip with Polly and an adventurous CEO named Leland Van Lew, Polly learns of the assessment and rejects Reuben's proposal to move in together. After Polly prepares to leave New York, Reuben realizes he wants to be with her. He catches up to her and performs a series of risky acts, including eating food off the ground, to prove his commitment. Polly agrees to date him, and they decide to take things slowly. A year later, the couple vacations in Saint Barthélemy, where Reuben has loosened up and Polly has become more comfortable with commitment. They encounter Claude and Reuben thanks him for the role he played in their journey before heading into the water.
- First release year
- 2004
- Runtime (minutes)
- 90
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- John Hamburg
- Writers
- John Hamburg · writer
- Cast and characters
- Ben Stiller · Reuben Feffer; Jennifer Aniston · Polly Prince; Philip Seymour Hoffman · Leland Van Lew; Debra Messing · Lisa Kramer; Hank Azaria; Bryan Brown; Alec Baldwin
- Genres
- romantic comedy
- Themes
- Risk vs. Security; Commitment; Adultery
- Tone and mood
- Romantic; Comedy; Gross-out humor
- Premise and plot tags
- Romantic Comedy; Adultery; Risk Assessment
- Content notes
- Adultery
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, though it was a financial success at the box office.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 27% · review count: 163; Metacritic · score: 44 · scale: 100 · review count: 35; CinemaScore · score: B · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The film opened at #1 at the box office in the United States, ending the month-long reign of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.; The film topped the United Kingdom box office for two weekends after its February 27, 2004 release.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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