Along Came Polly MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +3 1/2 Content: -2 1/2

Reuben Feffer (Ben Stiller) is an insurance risk assessor who lives very cautiously in this romantic comedy. He knows the likelihood that he will be hit by a car or fall through a subway grate while walking to work, and he worries about catching diseases from the five out of six people who dont wash their hands after using the restroom. Yet despite his best effort to cut his risks, Reuben finds himself in a position of great loss when he discovers his bride Lisa (Debra Messing) in another mans bed on their honeymoon. Though embarrassed and hurt, Reuben rebounds when he meets the risk-taking and noncommittal Polly (Jennifer Aniston). Against the advice of his best friend, Sandy (Philip Seymour Hoffman), to return to his penitent wife, Reuben pursues Polly and discovers that life and love are risky endeavors to be embraced rather than avoided.

In Along Came Polly, two extramarital sexual relationships are presented. The first relationship, between Reubens wife and another man, is treated negatively as an outrageous violation of the recent marriage covenant. The second relationship, between Reuben and Polly, is treated positively. Polly clearly views the relationship as short-term, and Reuben only has vague hopes of marriage. While recognizing the heartless nature of Lisas adultery, the filmmakers see nothing wrong with a sexual relationship between two unmarried adults and thus present an unbiblical view of sexuality and marriage. The key issue is subtle. Biblical marriage is a one-flesh covenant including monogamous sexuality in the place of previous virginity. Marriage in this film, however, is viewed as a promise of sexual monogamy in place of previous sexual promiscuity. This unbiblical view, along with significant objectionable language and some nudity, earn Along Came Polly a negative acceptability rating.

Preview Reviewer: Shaun Daugherty
Distributor: Universal Pictures