There's Something About Mary might be one of the most offensive movies in the history of offensive movies. But I'll be DAMNED if people don't laugh themselves into facial pain.

Why is that? People who hate Howard Stern, who blush at the mere mention of the male organ, who you might even call "prudes," sit and giggle like fools during Mary. In a recent screening, a full house of viewers from all age groups and walks of life (including Chicago Bulls general manager Jerry Krause) roared with glee at the wanton mockery of the mentally retarded, the plight of a man with his genitals trapped in his fly, and a parade of psychos stalking a beautiful girl. The jokes are often vicious and cruel, and the laughs are often uncomfortable, yet it all works.

The secret to Mary's success might be found in the title of an old Nick Lowe tune: it's "cruel to be kind." Or maybe it's kind to be cruel. Or maybe it's just the combination of kindness and cruelty that allows the blows of this film's comedy to hit more like a stiff pillow than a nasty comedic uppercut. However you choose to phrase it, there's a clever brew of kindness and cruelty simmering deep within There's Something About Mary, and it elevates what could have been a sophomoric exercise in low blows into one of the best films of the summer.

You don't want to know too much about the story, because revealing any of the plot twists would deprive you of some hearty laughs. Ted Stroehmann (Ben Stiller) is a writer who has never felt as good about himself as he did when he was 16 and he had a date to attend the prom with the beautiful Mary Matthews (the STUNNING Cameron Diaz). He hires sleazy private investigator Pat Healy (Matt Dillon) to track her down. Healy falls in love with her, Stroehmann's best friend Dom Woogenowski (Chris Elliot) pushes him to fly to Miami and court her himself, and Mary is eventually stalked by a motley crue of psychos and dorks.

Some of the finest comedic moments in Mary are brought to life by the top-notch supporting cast. Elliot is simply brilliant in his small supporting role as Dom Woogenowski. It's simply fascinating to watch him work; you can tell he's thinking every second he's on the screen, attempting to devise his next comedic twist. Lin Shaye, a member of the Farrelly brothers' cast of recurring performers, creates a sweet but twisted overtanned widower, Magda, who makes out with her dog and drinks herself into oblivion. And as Mary's retarded brother Warren, W. Earl Brown's hilarious but endearing performance keeps the running mockery of the mentally challenged from tipping into an uncomfortable reoccurrence.

There's Something About Mary is the first movie "not for the squeamish" that can be enjoyed by the squeamish. You have Warren being mocked and tricked throughout the film, but there's also the tender relationship between Warren and his sister Mary to balance that out. Mary's visible love for Warren is just one of the tender touches in Mary that form its warm, gentle heart. It's a bitter asbestos Twinkie with a sweet, creamy center.