Just Go With It
Yeah, I saw it. Yeah, it was a typical Adam Sandler movie. Well, typical Adam Sandler of late movie that is. No, it wasn't very good. Wasn't his worst effort in recent years either, it just wasn't particularly good. It had what you would expect it to have: toilet humor, dick jokes, Adam Sandler's character being completely obsessed with a much hotter than he could hope to snag chick, Adam Sandler doing stupid voices, and of course a ludicrous, over-the-top, please-have-him-killed-off-mid-movie sidekick. Among other convential Sandler gags (I was surprised at the minimal amount of singing and Jewish jokes... or Jew-related jokes, rather). Here's the thing, though. It was also heavy on...ummm...heartfelt moments... which is also a Sandler staple of late. He's dialed down the potty humor and dialed up the date-friendly humor. A little something for everyone...or anyone...with half a working brain. But here's the other thing... even given his attempt (and yes, I do mean his. No, he didn't write the movie...or the play it's apparently based on...but his production company, Happy Madison did produce this gem... and he is credited as a producer) to- I don't know- grow up a bit, Sandler, here offers one of his dumbest movies to date. The whole thing is ridiculously unbelievable and so totally predictable. And yet, Sandler and company managed to squeeze out nearly two hours of story here. How? They just kept out-doing themselves in ridiculousness. In fact, one of the things that kept engaged was my curiosity at how absurd they were willing to go... and the answer? Pretty damn absurd. Which, of course, makes me absurd for seeing it, right? Maybe.
But by absurd, what do I mean? Well the whole thing is built on such a shaky premise... that ladies are attracted to damaged married, men. Wait, what? They are. And by ladies I mean women 30 and under. And by attracted I mean they want badly to shag. And by men, I mean men looking and acting like Adam Sandler. See what I mean? Sure, all the single chicas I know are just itching to be "the other woman". But it's ok, see, because Sandler's Danny- who is of course lying about marriage- is in a string of dumpster-fire relationships. His "wives" are abusive, strung-out on drugs or alcohol, cheating, or some engaging in some other horrid/satanic act. And Danny, well, he's noble for sticking by them... except he's also willing to shag you, and you, yes, you 30 (generous) and under female, that's your ticket! Huh. Isn't that something....stupid. Why, yes, it is. So to sum up: Hi, I'm a 20-something woman. Oh, you're married. And in such a horrid marriage that you need professional help or at the very least, you need to leave. And yet you're so nobly sticking by the bitch. Hmm, you know what? USE ME!!! Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are women out there who do like one-night stands, and who do get excited by the thought of being the other woman... and there are women out there who find Sandler attractive... but a parade of twenty-somethings that fit all three criteria? Not so sure.
Ok,ok, yes, I'm being a bit hypocritical. And yeah, I usually don't like to get so preachy. It's a movie after all, just fun and games. And you HAVE to be willing to suspend your disbelieve in virtually any movie in order for it to be fun. I've always said that the movie just needs to be consistent and play by the rules it establishes as it's baseline in order for it to be believable. So, this is the baseline, and as Sandler is the emperor he can establish such a laughable baseline. (Never mind the fact that it was his being used by a callous, gold digger that set Danny's 20-charade off- the lesson he learned apparently was what's good for the goose is good for the gander... bitch). That doesn't mean that I have to think that the baseline isn't dumb. It's stupid. Again, maybe I'm getting too wound up here. It's just a movie.... I don't know. But, ok, we'll play by YOUR rules Sandler. What happens next?
Danny bumps into 23ish year old Palmer (Brooklyn Decker). And after what apparently is an evening of small talk, big sex, and umm, deep connections (we know this because Danny tells it to us...as he tells it to Palmer- yeah the chemistry between Sandler and Decker wasn't really there. Maybe it's because Sandler is trying to have relationship-quality chemistry with a woman young enough to be his daughter... or maybe it's because Decker is a model who can't act- she can't...yet anyway, maybe there's hope for her. Malin Ackerman was a model and I actually think she's done pretty well in the movies. But Decker? Right now? Not so much acting as reciting her lines.. I don't know, they form a connection. Over night. But here's the deal. Because of that connection- formed, incidentally, without Danny having to play the beat-up husband role- Danny has finally found a girl worthy of being something other than a receptacle for his lust. And...she's interested in BEING something other than a receptacle for his lust! Win-win. A match made in Hollywood. What a magical one-night stand. Only, Danny blows it by having his trusty wedding ring in his pants and Palmer finds it. Show over. She never really wanted to be a receptacle for his lust... I mean... if he was married anyway. She's not THAT kind of girl. Fair enough. So the ever resourceful Danny hits the fall back plan... he lies. Well... 24ish hours later he shows up at Palmer's place of employment and tries to explain away the ring. You see, he's getting a divorce because his wife is the devil. Ah, but Palmer wants proof. She needs to meet the devil. So Danny begs/bribes his assistant (Jennifer Aniston) into playing the role of she-devil, soon-to-be ex-wife. By the way, Danny is a plastic surgeon. A rich one. I suppose we're supposed to believe that Palmer would fall for Danny, not because he's rich... or because she would get a discount on plastic surgery (because, honestly, she doesn't need the work... unless, that is, Danny specializes in adding a dimension to folks' personality. She may be a candidate for that.). No, Palmer connected with Danny. He told us so. Anyway, shenanigans ensue when Katherine/"Devlin"- that'd be her phony married name- drops the bomb that she has kids- which the two lie about and claim they're hers with Danny. And the whole crew ends up going to Hawaii where... I suppose I should issue a warning here... spoiler alert.... Palmer ends up parading around in a bikini. A lot. And Danny and Katherine fall for each other. Something you could see coming from the first extended scene with the two in Danny's office.
Just a couple of problems here. First, the "connection" between Danny and Palmer. Danny seems only interested in Palmer for two reasons. To watch her strut her stuff in her barely there bikini (speaking of which kudos to said bikini for its game effort in narrowly holding on to keep this a pg-13 gig) and to have sex with her. That's the connection. We know this because every time she does anything that isn't one of those two things, Danny rolls his eyes, acts exasperated, and seems genuinely annoyed by her. So I guess she's different than every other girl, because he wants to shag her til death do them part. So yeah, about that connection. It's ridiculous.
The other major problem. Well, see, he likes Palmer enough that he doesn't want to reveal what a real shallow, skivvy asshole he is to her by telling the truth about his wedding ring. So instead he starts to build up and ever more complicated lie which would be harder to maintain expecting her never to find out...forever. He doesn't want to reveal what a pathological lier he is...so he lies. Ok, sure, that does actually make sense. What else would a lier do. The fact that he's able to pull it off for so long is ridiculous. And you know what else is ridiculous? Katherine knows all about all the lying. She knows all about the parade of really young women Danny has bagged. And yet, she still falls for him. One reason? He tells her that she's the only one he's never lied to... said the lier. How do you believe him? So, Danny has no problem being the complete ass he is (even if he is fun and charming) to the woman he falls for, but the one he was interested in for the sake of banging...she can't find out what a scoundrel he is. And even though she knows he's completely disgusting. Danny ends up being KATHERINE'S completely disgusting jerk. So its ok. She can fall in love with him. Sandler's not playing by rules here, he's playing Calvinball and making the rules, the baseline, up as he goes along. And in doing so he creates a ridiculously unbelievable and ultimately dumb movie.
Ok, yeah, no, I don't usually like to take things so seriously. It WAS just a movie. A dumb one. And it wasn't even THAT terrible. It had some redeeming factors. Not many. But Aniston is charming in it. Even if it is the role she seems destined to play for the rest of her career. The really sincere, giving, consolation prize of a woman... who's really the main prize. Never mind that she's stunning and -in this role- fun in her own right and completely worth winning. Whatever. HER chemistry with Sandler- particularly the flirting back and forth in the office was entertaining. And, I suppose, there were a few gags I chuckled at.... annnnnd... hmmm. well that's it. So redeeming factors or not, this movie kind of sucked. But if we're grading on a Sandler curve... this would be towards the tip of the list. Harmless, ultimately, I suppose, but really unbelievable...and dumb.
Oh, I should also apologize if I did, in fact, ruin the movie for anyone. I'm sorry. But let me put it this way... I might have ruined the movie, but I'm pretty sure I saved your night.
Grade: D+
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