Saturday, February 14, 2004

MOVIE - 50 FIRST DATES - Review Rating $$$$$ 1/2 (OUT OF 10) STARRING - Adam Sandler (Henry Roth), Drew Barrymore (Lucy Whitmore), Dan Aykroyd (Dr. Keats), Rob Schneider (Ula), Sean Astin (Doug Whitmore) & Blake Clark (Marlin Whitmore). DIRECTOR - Peter Segal (Anger Management, Tommy Boy, My Fellow Americans, Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult, Nutty Professor II: The Klumps) 50 First Dates raked in $71 million in its first two weeks of theatrical release. This may explain why Adam Sandler doesn't get tired of playing the same character over and over again. Too bad the same thing can't be said about the humour. Not only is it getting tired but there's very little of it in 50 First dates. You know a movie is in trouble when it relies on animal gags, like a vomiting walrus, for 50% or more of its jokes. Sandler, who showed a flash of brilliance in Punch-Drunk Love, is in danger of becoming the obvious choice to replace Eddie Murphy in the lead role in the Dr. Doolittle films. Drew Barrymore saves 50 First Dates from being a total waste of time. She brings a light and convincing touch to her portrayal of an upbeat flower child suffering from short term memory loss. Her condition is also surprisingly portrayed in a sufficiently sympathetic manner to remain charmingly funny as opposed to outright offensive. That sympathy is a trademark of most of Sandler's recent movies. He wants you to like him and he finds a way to have his character demonstrate his softer side. Redemption excuses crudeness and everybody leaves happy. It's shameless pandering but it tempts you, less and less each time, to forgive Sandler for failing to expand his repertoire. 50 First Dates scrapes the bottom of Sandler's humour barrel but dredges up just enough good bits to consider renting it on a night you have nothing else better to do. Running time - 96 minutes Alternative Reviews: Roger Ebert's Review Peter Travers / Rolling Stone Review Rotten Tomatoes Reviews 50 FIRST DATES OFFICIAL WEB SITE Comments by Halo Scan: 12:17:56 AM     |

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