“There’s Something About Mary” / 「メリーに首ったけ」, Original Japanese Movie Poster 1999, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) E279
Sale price$115.00
This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed for the 1999 Japanese release of There’s Something About Mary / 「メリーに首ったけ」, the Farrelly brothers’ enormously successful romantic comedy starring Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon, and Ben Stiller.
The Japanese title, Merī ni Kubittake / 「メリーに首ったけ」, is an idiomatic expression meaning “Head Over Heels for Mary.” This colourful Japanese design centres on Diaz’s celebrated “hair gel” image while introducing the film’s eccentric collection of romantic rivals and supporting characters.
Film background
The film follows Ted Stroehmann, a shy and awkward man who remains obsessed with his high-school crush, Mary Jensen, thirteen years after their disastrous prom date ended in humiliation.
Hoping to find her again, Ted hires private investigator Pat Healy to track Mary down in Miami. Healy quickly becomes infatuated with her himself and gives Ted misleading information so that he can pursue Mary without competition.
Ted eventually discovers the deception and travels to Florida, only to find that several other men are also attempting to win Mary’s affection through false identities, elaborate lies, and increasingly absurd schemes.
The film was directed by Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly, from a screenplay by Ed Decter, John J. Strauss, and the Farrelly brothers.
The principal cast includes:
Cameron Diaz Matt Dillon Ben Stiller Lee Evans Chris Elliott Lin Shaye W. Earl Brown
Singer-songwriter Jonathan Richman appears throughout the film as a musical narrator, commenting on the developing romantic chaos.
The film became one of the defining comedies of the late 1990s, establishing Cameron Diaz as a major international star and reinforcing Ben Stiller’s position as a leading comic actor. It received Golden Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress for Diaz.
Poster design
The composition is dominated by a full-length portrait of Cameron Diaz as Mary, dressed in a vivid pink slip against a clean cream background.
Her swept-up fringe immediately references the film’s most famous visual joke. Diaz’s direct smile and relaxed pose give the poster a bright, glamorous appearance that contrasts with the crude and chaotic comedy surrounding her character.
Along the lower section, a row of brightly framed, Polaroid-style portraits introduces Mary’s admirers and associates. These include:
Matt Dillon as the deceitful private investigator Pat Healy Ben Stiller as the long-suffering Ted Chris Elliott as the unsettling Dom Brett Favre as “Mr. Perfect” Lee Evans as the suspicious architect Tucker Lin Shaye as Mary’s eccentric neighbour Magda Puffy, the dog encased in a body cast
Each portrait is accompanied by humorous Japanese copy summarising the character’s particular obsession or eccentricity.
The bold green headline across the top reads:
「エッチでビンビン！笑いすぎてイッちゃいます。」
A loose translation is:
“Sexy and outrageous—you’ll laugh until you lose control.”
The green tagline below the title reads:
「アノことだけを考えたラブ・ストーリー…」
Translated:
“A love story with only one thing on its mind…”
The Japanese title:
「メリーに首ったけ」
is rendered in expressive black, pink, green, and blue lettering, accented by a small red heart.
The original English logo:
“THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY”
appears at lower left, while the production credits identify 20th Century Fox, Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon, Ben Stiller, and the Farrelly brothers.
The result is a playful and immediately recognisable example of late-1990s Japanese comedy-poster design, combining star photography, character humour, and brightly coloured graphic elements.
Condition
Excellent condition. A highly attractive example retaining clean cream tones, vivid pink and green colour, sharp photographic detail, and excellent overall display impact.
There are only light signs of age and handling consistent with an original Japanese theatrical poster from this period.
Reference: E279.
Please review the photograph carefully, as it shows the exact poster for sale.
This is an original Japanese theatrical poster from the film’s 1999 Japanese release campaign. It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
