Synopsis

Best friends Wayne and J.D. become alarmed when their Neil Diamond-obsessed bandmate, Darren Silverman, falls under the control of his domineering fiancee, Judith. Determined to restore their friendship and keep Darren from a disastrous marriage, the pair kidnap Judith, stage an elaborate deception, and try to reunite Darren with Sandy, his longtime sweetheart. Their increasingly reckless plans lead to chaos, violence, and an unexpected appeal to Neil Diamond.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film was shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, between June and August 2000, using the city as the setting for its fictional world.

• Neil Diamond appears as himself and wrote the original song "I Believe in Happy Endings" specifically for the film. The song was later included on his 2001 album *Three Chord Opera*.

• The screenplay originally centered on the characters' devotion to Paul Simon. After Simon declined the project, Neil Diamond became the focus instead.

• The theatrical release was PG-13, but home video editions also included a longer R-rated cut. That version restores roughly four minutes of footage, adds stronger language, and includes raunchier alternate material.

• Kyle Gass, Jack Black's Tenacious D collaborator, appears in a small role as the magician who flirts with Judith in a bar.

• R. Lee Ermey was cast as the high school coach after a previous connection with director Dennis Dugan, who had wanted to use him in *Happy Gilmore*.