CriticSociety- film reviews

Review

50 First Dates

Director

Peter Segal

Year

2004

Rating

Reviewed by

José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris

Review date

Monday, April 26, 2004

I am a huuuuge fan of The Wedding Singer, which starred Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. But somehow, when I saw the trailer of their latest reunion, I was unimpressed. Sandler movies have become mostly the same with only a few exceptions, and this one sounded just like another round of the usual stuff. Nevertheless I ended up seeing it, and, you know, I had a good time.

Henry Roth (Adam Sandler) is a womanizer veterinarian who can’t believe his luck when he finally finds the woman of his life, Lucy (Drew Barrymore), and soon realizes she suffers from short-term memory loss after an accident with her father (Blake Clark). Lucy wakes up everyday thinking it’s a Sunday in October, and her father and brother (Sean Astin) help her keep that illusion so she won’t suffer. But Henry is willing to go one step further...

Now, I don’t think I can say this movie isn’t your usual Adam Sandler fare. It is. There are gross-out moments, supporting characters coming right out of his world (such as long-time pal Rob Schneider), over-the-top moments and an air of this being a Hollywood movie in every sense of the word... This is the quintessential commercial movie that more uptight people usually hate.

For anyone to enjoy this movie, there’s one tiny detail you have to know before coming in: leave your brain at the door, but take your heart with you. There are more plot holes in this movie than tits in a porn flick, so there needs to be some suspension of disbelief in order to have a good time. Once you go with it, then you’re in.

Something that differentiates this movie from the usual Sandler stuff is its sweetness. The movie is a romantic comedy, but I’m willing to say it’s more romantic than comedic. And it works, because Sandler and Barrymore have the chemistry and because the screenplay allows us to care for them. For instance, the way Lucy’s father and brother keep her from suffering by pretending they’re living the same day over and over is simply heart breaking. And it says a lot about love and family.

There’s no denying there’s a big deal of Groundhog Day (1993) in the movie, although this one isn’t even close to the greatness of the latter.

Sandler is his usual self, to tell you the truth, albeit a bit more restrained. He does go over-the-top in a couple of scenes (especially when he pretends he’s crying, which he does horribly by the way), but for the most part he’s suitable and charming. Barrymore, on the other hand, is tough and adorable at the same time. We fall in love with her and wish her the best.

I looooved the ending, since I was expecting a cheap trick around the corner and somehow that didn’t happen. The movie stayed true to its roots and I must give kudos to everyone involved.

“Yeah. Sorry I’m not better looking.”

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