Mildly entertaining and more than a little mawkish, the Farrelly brothers' "Shallow Hal" feels like a laugh machine that never really powers up. [...] sentimentality swamps much of the comedy as Bobby and Peter Farrelly go for the heart rather than the solar plexus. Fans will no doubt excuse the PC preachiness this go-round so long as the brothers return to their distinctive brand of irreverent comedy next time.

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