The gay issue premise of this dismal failure is only slightly better than its offensive execution. If this movie had been made twenty-five years ago, it could have had an Archie Bunker kind of appeal, but in the more accepting 21st century world (and in live and let live NYC of all places), the characters' initial attitudes are jaw-droppingly offensive. The inappropriate humor is not limited to alternative lifestyles either, as it flirts with racism and cruel weight jokes. All of this might have been easier to handle if the jokes were funny, but most are not. All that is left is a story that is disturbing in so many ways, I will not be able to tell them all to you.
Sandler is super-stud fireman, Chuck Levine (pretty hard to buy, but what the hell, it's a comedy) whose life is saved by his fellow fire-eater and best friend, Larry Valentine (Kevin James). Larry has lost his wife and somehow his option to change the beneficiaries of his pension to his kids has elapsed (ridiculous, I know, but it's a comedy premise, what can you do). To solve this, Larry has to re-marry, but he is nowhere close to ready, so he proposes (literally) that he and Chuck pose as a same sex couple to assure his kids are taken care of. The city, apparently fooling with class action human rights' lawsuits is cracking down on fraud among purported same sex unions and sends out Clinton Fitzer (Steve Buscemi in a funny role) to investigate. Meanwhile, Chuck and Larry, frightened by potential jail terms, get a lawyer, played by the lovely Jessica Biel. Chuck falls for her, and the two become friends, but he can't let on that he is actually straight. The only thing that could make this part of the story worse be if Chuck somehow got a date with two women at once, as well (the old sit com stand-by plot). Or I guess they could have a zany KKK member around too. That would be worse. From the protesters at a gay gathering, to the city persecution of a lifestyle, and the 1950s reaction of their co-workers, this story is disturbingly distasteful and everyone's act three conversion is just not enough.
As you may have guessed, I didn't like this movie and it got more grimaces than giggles out of me. It is as offensive as films from past generations, but those we can dismiss with a 'well, it was a different time, wasn't it?' excuse. I can't see this being enjoyed by anyone besides homophobic idiots and adolescent boys goggling Jessica Biel (true, she looks fantastic. I kinda liked that part, too). Adam Sandler always seems to dance on the line of appropriate humor and I often enjoy his efforts even when they are not politically correct, but this time out he has stumbled completely over that line and he is unlikely to generate enough smiles from most viewers to make it OK. As for Kevin James, if he wants to make the jump from the small screen to something larger with individual seats and public restrooms, he is going to have to choose better projects than this.
(This work was first posted on realmoviereview.com)
Sandler is super-stud fireman, Chuck Levine (pretty hard to buy, but what the hell, it's a comedy) whose life is saved by his fellow fire-eater and best friend, Larry Valentine (Kevin James). Larry has lost his wife and somehow his option to change the beneficiaries of his pension to his kids has elapsed (ridiculous, I know, but it's a comedy premise, what can you do). To solve this, Larry has to re-marry, but he is nowhere close to ready, so he proposes (literally) that he and Chuck pose as a same sex couple to assure his kids are taken care of. The city, apparently fooling with class action human rights' lawsuits is cracking down on fraud among purported same sex unions and sends out Clinton Fitzer (Steve Buscemi in a funny role) to investigate. Meanwhile, Chuck and Larry, frightened by potential jail terms, get a lawyer, played by the lovely Jessica Biel. Chuck falls for her, and the two become friends, but he can't let on that he is actually straight. The only thing that could make this part of the story worse be if Chuck somehow got a date with two women at once, as well (the old sit com stand-by plot). Or I guess they could have a zany KKK member around too. That would be worse. From the protesters at a gay gathering, to the city persecution of a lifestyle, and the 1950s reaction of their co-workers, this story is disturbingly distasteful and everyone's act three conversion is just not enough.
As you may have guessed, I didn't like this movie and it got more grimaces than giggles out of me. It is as offensive as films from past generations, but those we can dismiss with a 'well, it was a different time, wasn't it?' excuse. I can't see this being enjoyed by anyone besides homophobic idiots and adolescent boys goggling Jessica Biel (true, she looks fantastic. I kinda liked that part, too). Adam Sandler always seems to dance on the line of appropriate humor and I often enjoy his efforts even when they are not politically correct, but this time out he has stumbled completely over that line and he is unlikely to generate enough smiles from most viewers to make it OK. As for Kevin James, if he wants to make the jump from the small screen to something larger with individual seats and public restrooms, he is going to have to choose better projects than this.
(This work was first posted on realmoviereview.com)