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Along Came Polly
Along Came Polly
Along Came Polly
Along Came Polly
Along Came Polly
The Ice Storm
Happy Gilmore
Happy Gilmore
Happy Gilmore
Film credit
Ben Stiller
Also referred to as Stiller
Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 8
- Movies in this archive
- 8
Rewatchables episodes featuring Ben Stiller’s films
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
2004 film
Craig Horlbeck · Danny Heifetz · Danny Kelly
Aired August 6, 2024
Happy Gilmore
1996 film
Bill Simmons · Sean Fennessey · Josh Safdie · Benny Safdie
Aired December 10, 2019
Displaying all 8 episodes
Mentioned in discussions
Apex Mountain
Hippo monologues
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:46:56Read transcript
- IBS is tentatively proposed for Apex without a firm conclusion. — Bill Simmons
- Apex rejects Stiller, Aniston, Hoffman and spanking; Meet the Parents is favored for Stiller, and Capote/Mission: Impossible III for Hoffman. Messing receives a probable yes during her Will & Grace era. — Bill Simmons
- Apex rejects Komodo dragons, Stiller bathroom mishaps and White Chocolate in favor of Jason Williams; throw pillows are only a possibility. — Bill Simmons
- IBS remains only possible Apex; salsa and ferrets are rejected, while hippo monologues receive a probable yes and direct agreement. — Bill Simmons
Half-Assed Internet Research
Ferret bites; jump location; Baldwin coaching; sweat gag
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:23:48Read transcript
- The ferret reportedly bit Stiller during production; the thought of using it as toilet paper successfully alarms a viewer. — Bill Simmons
- Leland Van Lew's name is an aged-best addition, and his jump building is identified as the AT&T Tower at 611 West 6th Street, Los Angeles, qualifying the assumption that all filming was in New York. — Bill Simmons
- Hamburg reportedly rewrote the boardroom speech the night before; Hoffman struggled until Baldwin talked with him at lunch, after which the finished performance emerged. — Bill Simmons
- The basketball sweat gag reportedly used glycerin, a trampoline and twelve takes of the man's chest hitting Stiller's face. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:10:30Read transcript
- Stiller's salsa dance is the overacting choice and disliked as too exaggerated.
The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot
Sasquatch’s sweaty stomach in slow motion
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:07:04Read transcript
- The overhead gallery shot is initially chosen for most cinematic shot, but Stiller pressed into Sasquatch's sweaty stomach in slow motion becomes the agreed answer. — Bill Simmons
What’s Aged the Worst?
Racquetball; communal bar snacks; E!True Hollywood Story; Stiller running
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:41:36Read transcript
- Racquetball is an aged-worst candidate potentially replaced by pickleball, though it is defended as fun when both players are good; others emphasize injury and fighting risks. — Bill Simmons
- Communal bar snacks have given way to individually served trays at many bars. — Sean Fennessey
- E!True Hollywood Story is dated yet nostalgically valued, and the joke that Sandy hired the crew remains excellent. Stiller's running is another aged-worst candidate. — Bill Simmons
- Hamburg reportedly recalled Hoffman being frustrated that strangers recognized the basketball/shart role after his more prestigious achievements; the discussion distinguishes enjoying broad comedy from disliking public attention. — Bill Simmons
What’s Aged the Best?
Baldwin; New York; Aniston; child-star premise; Risk Master; comic details
In the discussion (12)
Approx. transcript time · 00:52:12Read transcript
- Baldwin's accent and Indursky are aged-best choices; his character is imagined as an older Glengarry Glen Ross shark. The discussion's contemporaneous Rust remarks are distinguished from Craig's association of Baldwin with 30 Rock.
- The film is praised as an underrated New York movie, especially recognizable downtown restaurants and galleries. — Sean Fennessey
- Aniston's career arc looks stronger in hindsight after later hit comedies; Hoffman is also an obvious aged-best choice. — Sean Fennessey
- A child actor permanently defined by a ten-year-old success is an aged-best concept, illustrated by school memories. Hamburg reportedly drew on wondering how life would have changed had he won an audition for The Champ. — Bill Simmons
- The nature of Crocodile Tears remains uncertain: a family comedy, childhood tragedy or Bad News Bears-style film is debated, and the bagpipe scene's content is unknown. — Bill Simmons
- Polly's graphic children's novel about losing an arm is praised as comedy that now resembles some real children's books. — Bill Simmons
- St. Barts and vacation settings are aged-best choices, with pandemic family movie-watching used as virtual travel. — Bill Simmons
- Risk Master and Reuben's constant calculations fit his profession; an actuary spouse supports the characterization, though the stated subway-grate and car-accident odds are questioned. — Bill Simmons
- Bryan Brown's presence is celebrated through Cocktail references and a proposed repeat episode; a seven-minute bar-showcase compilation is imagined.
- Jesus Christ Superstar rehearsals with Sandy claiming both Jesus and Judas are aged-best, as is Reuben's aversion to communal bar snacks; individual modern snack trays are a contrasting aged-worst observation. Impromptu base-jumping is praised as dependable movie excitement. — Bill Simmons
- Reuben counting down to delay orgasm and shouting 50 is praised, as is Polly's later conversation about it. His broken Spanish confrontation with Javier fits Stiller's foolish persona. — Bill Simmons
- Leland Van Lew's name is an aged-best addition, and his jump building is identified as the AT&T Tower at 611 West 6th Street, Los Angeles, qualifying the assumption that all filming was in New York. — Bill Simmons
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Families’ futures; Sandy’s fate; Jim Carver’s preparation; worst movie night; Paul and Libbets
In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:23:26Read transcript
- Both families are expected to divorce. — Chris Ryan
- Sandy is imagined in jail, having killed someone driving drunk, or jokingly becoming president. — Bill Simmons
- Why Jim Carver did not take precautions before the key party is asked, citing Ben Stiller’s and Matthew McConaughey’s movie examples. — Bill Simmons
- His silicone invention may have made him rich, with jokes about his efficiency.
- Whether anyone had a worse movie night without jail is asked; After Hours is the competition. — Bill Simmons
- Whether Paul and Libbets ever got together, and where the name Libbets comes from, are left for a sequel.
In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:11:26Read transcript
- Ben Stiller is the initial and final winner. — Andy Greenwald
- Gwyneth Paltrow is proposed as an alternate because she makes an active choice in every moment, even while doing very little. — Andy Greenwald
- The participants clarify that Paltrow's nomination is praise, using Al Pacino's Vincent Hanna as the category's positive model. — Chris Ryan
- Anderson's centered compositions, limited close-ups, and concern for movement constrain conventional overacting. — Andy Greenwald
- Stiller operates at a different frequency from the rest of the cast but makes that intensity work.
- The board-game-closet confrontation with Hackman is the main example of Stiller pushing the performance.
Half-Assed Internet Research
Predator hand joke; Mark Lye's gold-jacket claim; Lee Trevino's regret; deleted Stiller window scene
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:17:14Read transcript
- Chubbs's missing hand was an inside joke between Sandler and Hurley about Predator. — Bill Simmons
- The first draft reportedly had Happy winning the Masters until consultant Mark Lye suggested a fictional tournament with gold jackets; his telling is mocked. — Bill Simmons
- Lee Trevino reportedly regretted appearing because of the swearing; called a bad take. — Bill Simmons
- A deleted scene of Happy throwing Ben Stiller through a window is noted. — Bill Simmons
The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award
No affirmative selection
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:16:20Read transcript
- The award's Partridge namesake from Magnolia is recalled and Julianne Moore is floated, then called more of a heat check. — Bill Simmons
- Little overacting is found; Carl Weathers goes for it but is called authentically good.
- The tour head, Stiller and Francis Bay are considered; one participant goes zero for the award.
In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:05:18Read transcript
- Nominees include Ben Stiller and Bob Barker.
- Vern's silent partner Jack, identified as Sandler's New York University roommate Giaraputo, never speaks. — Bill Simmons
- Bob Barker is called an all-time Dionne Waiters performance and gets a vote. — Bill Simmons
- Joe Flaherty, Lee Trevino, Nealon and Alan Cover (as transcribed) are added as nominees.
- Nealon is preferred by another participant.
- The case for Barker: five memorable minutes like 21 points; Nealon is the coach who draws up the winning play.
- A vote is cast for Bob, and another participant goes Nealon.
- Vern is floated as a candidate for grounding the movie as a credible golf announcer. — Sean Fennessey
Casting What-Ifs
Kevin Costner, Bruce Campbell or Peter Gallagher as Shooter McGavin
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:01:11Read transcript
- Kevin Costner was approached for Shooter McGavin and turned it down while doing Tin Cup. — Bill Simmons
- Costner might have been too likable and overpowered the movie, though it might have grounded it for critics like Ebert; it would have been a fun career move.
- Bruce Campbell lobbied hard for the part, and McDonald turned it down twice before doing it. — Bill Simmons
- Ben Stiller is uncredited, and a deleted scene where Happy gets revenge on him is recalled.
- Peter Gallagher's eyebrows would have made an interesting Shooter.
Displaying discussions 25 - 36 of 43 in total
Films in the archive
Along Came Polly
2004
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
2004
Happy Gilmore
1996
Meet the Parents
2000
Reality Bites
1994
There's Something About Mary
1998
The Royal Tenenbaums
2001
Tropic Thunder
2008