Forget "Happy Gilmore," forget "Big Daddy" and definitely forget "Billy Madison."
In the newest Happy Madison production, "50 First Dates," Adam Sandler succeeds in overcoming his label of a crude, rude slacker.
In fact, Sandler can even be deemed sensitive. He plays Henry Roth, a sea park veterinarian, who meets and falls in love with Lucy Whitmore (Drew Barrymore). But this is not a typical love story, where boy meets, woos and loves girl.
Instead, Henry must woo and re-woo Lucy, who suffers from short-term memory loss. Every time they meet, love strikes, but Lucy forgets about Henry and their relationship when she falls asleep.
This obstacle does not sway Henry, however. He persistently pursues Lucy, using clever ways to meet and introduce himself to her each day. He is also not overcome by Lucy's overprotective father (Blake Clark) and brother Doug (Sean Astin). He is driven to be with Lucy, the girl of his dreams.
The film is set in Hawaii, the perfect place for romance. The film isn't all mush and gush though. True to the Sandler tradition, the movie is given the expected comic relief. As in most Sandler films, Rob Schneider makes an appearance - this time playing Ula, Henry's Hawaiian sidekick. He does his job of making the audience laugh with some physical humor and several marijuana references.
Astin's character also provides some laughs, as he plays a dorky, lisp ridden, body builder who is afflicted with some "'roid rage."
Sandler gives a typically solid performance. He places more emphasis on trying to play a sensitive "good guy" character, in doing so sacrificing some of the humor to which his audiences are accustomed. The film is still funny, just more in accordance of its PG-13 rating.
Barrymore's performance is not to be overlooked. She does an excellent job of playing sweet, innocent Lucy, who struggles to come to terms with her condition.
"50 First Dates" not only has impressive performances, it is a visual treat as well. With the beautiful scenery of Hawaii, it's impossible not to enjoy the film.
One troubling aspect is the seemingly monotonous tone. Because Henry must continually meet and pursue Lucy, it's hard not to get frustrated at his lack of success. His patience is frustrating, and so the film seems to drag on.
The originality of the plot makes up for its slow pace. Slow or not, the writing is definitely clever. Unlike the plot of "Billy Madison," which is intellectually mundane, "50 First Dates" is unique and stimulating. The production shows Sandler's growth, and this is refreshing. Even if taken at the expense of humor.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
