Photo: Amazon.ca
Starring Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman and Brooklyn Decker. Directed by Dennis Dugan. 117 minutes. PG
If you're big Adam Sandler fan (like me), you might be a bit hesitant to see this film if his most recent work is any indication of where he's headed (which is some place far from funny). But hear me out, this one doesn't suck. Don't be surprised if you actually laugh a few times.
If you've seen the trailer, you get the gist. Dr. Danny Maccabee (Sandler) experienced the biggest heartbreak of his life on his wedding day years ago, so he's vowed off love and, although actually unmarried, tricks women into thinking he's in a marriage in shambles so sleep with him. Until one day when he truly falls for a girl and she doesn't buy the scam. So he stages it with the help of his secretary (Jennifer Aniston) posing as his wife. And you know, it leads to a massively snowballed messy lie. The problem with this film is two-fold: Aniston and it's un-Happy Madison-ness.
Despite appearances by Happy Madison regulars Peter Dante, Allen Covert and Jonathan Loughran and under the direction of Dennis Dugan, this is not a Happy Madison film as we know them. Which in short means that Rob Schneider doesn't say "You can do it!" and a whole lot of very funny others (Steve Buscemi, Blake Clark and Clint Howard) aren't in it all.
But that is kind of compensated for with a few other awesome appearances: SNL's Rachel Dratch, MADtv's Keegan-Michael Key and Kevin Nealon. Plus, Reno911!'s Nick Swardson also has a major (and majorly hilarious) role. And thankfully, Heidi Montag's appearance is so minimal that you likely won't even notice it.
However, one of the biggest issues with this film is Aniston as one of the leads. In her post-Friends days, she's probably most recognized for maintaining her looks, despite appearing in over a dozen films (though type-casted primarily in rom-coms). It seems she has always been and will always be the un-funny pretty girl with man troubles (dare I say, in her rumoured real-life as well).
This is not an Adam Sandler film; let's get that clear. But at least we can be grateful that after Grown Ups and Funny People, this is a turn for the better. Much better. B
