“Fifty First Dates” (Columbia Pictures)
A few years ago Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore lit up the screen when they paired in “The Wedding Singer.” Now they are back and better than ever in the romantic comedy “Fifty First Dates.” This film is full of laugh lines and sight gags but it also has its serious moments, which is what really gives the movie its impact.
Henry Roth (Sandler) is a veterinarian living the good life in Hawaii. He romances the ladies, especially the tourists, and loves them and leaves them. But all of that changes the day he spots Lucy Whitmore (Barrymore) in a diner.
They strike up a conversation and seem to hit it off right away. He leaves her, feeling like he wants to get to know her better. But the next day when he sees her again she doesn’t have the slightest idea as to who he is. One of her friends clues him in that she has short-term memory loss (That’s the same thing Dori the fish/Ellen DeGeneres had in “Finding Nemo” but her case was more severe). Each day when she awakes she thinks it is the day that she set out to look for pineapples with her father (Blake Clark) and was involved in an automobile accident.
This means that Henry has to woo and win Lucy’s love every single day. Now that is quite a challenge but Henry works on being the best every day lover she could possibly have. Her father and brother (Sean Astin) are at first wary of him but eventually he wins them over.
Sandler has become a better and better actor with each progressive film. In this movie he is still a wild and funny guy but he balances the role with sincerity and depth. It is the same type of performance he gave in “Punch Drunk Love” and it is impressive.
Barrymore is an actress who is immediately likeable in any role she plays. As Lucy she is vulnerable and adorable. She is totally convincing in all aspects of the character’s disability. It is not an easy role to play but Barrymore makes it seem as simple as breathing.
Blake Clark, who is a staple in Sandler movies, is gruff and brusque as Lucy’s father, but he also manages to show how broken hearted the man is. Sean Astin has some comic moments as her brother and he combines them with sincerity and devotion.
Usually Rob Schneider is annoying as the sidekick but in this film he is entertaining. Whenever things verge on being too serious his character of Ula kicks things up a notch. Lucia Strus has some weird screen time as Alexa, Henry’s assistant.
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and sexual innuendoes.
You will be surprised at how sweet and caring this movie is, and it manages to capture the best moments without being sappy. There is still a lot of love, a lot of romance, and a lot of entertainment, BUT the heartfelt emotions that permeate the film are what makes it a must see.
I scored “Fifty First Dates” an introduced 7 out of 10.
