The mother

She served as one of the "MacGuffin's" for the film. If you're not sure what that is, look it up.

In the commentary, if my memory serves me, it was a cost cutting method. The same reason why the extras don't talk. Eg. The male taxi customer who gets out of the cab without saying anything just before Cameron Diaz gets in.


Barry McMullen: "I like being a pessimist. It helps me deal with my inevitable failure."

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Isn't it also because it's funny? It reminded me of how you never see Maris in Frasier.