50 First Dates Review
by Bob Bloom (bobbloom AT iquest DOT net)February 19th, 2004
50 FIRST DATES (2004) 2 1/2 stars out of 4. Starring Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Rob Schneider, Sean Astin, Lusia Strus, Blake Clark, Amy Hill, Allen Covert and Dan Aykroyd. Written by George Wing. Directed by Peter Segal. Rated PG-13. Runnng time: Approx: 105 mins.
50 First Dates tentatively wades into the waters of romantic comedy, but fails to take the full plunge.
Instead, it distracts and obscures its sweetness by tossing in some peripheral characters who hamper rather than propel the story.
The film’s premise is simple: Henry Roth (Adam Sandler), an Arctic marine life veterinarian, has commitment issues. His usual practice is to court, then dump beautiful young tourists.
But his life and outlook are drastically changed when he meets Lucy Whitmore (Drew Barrymore), a high school art teacher suffering from an unusual neurological disorder that causes her memory to be erased every night.
The irony of the situation should be crystal clear to even the densest filmgoer, as Henry must woo and win Lucy every day.
Some of the plot contrivances created by George Wing are far too convoluted: Lucy’s father and brother recreate the day before the accident that cost Lucy her short-term memory on a daily basis so as not to upset her.
Set in Hawaii, it seems half the island connives with Lucy’s family to help the young woman maintain her illusion of normalcy.
Barrymore’s adorability quotient has never been higher. Her Lucy is so huggable and vulnerable that you want to just wrap her in some protective coating.
Sandler continually switches between his concerned adult persona and his childish, gross-out characterization.
Which brings us to the various distractions, the main one being Sandler pal Rob Schneider as Henry’s pothead pal, continually surrounded by his five children, who thinks and talks about nothing but sex.
Then there’s the walrus whose projectile vomit inundates Henry’s androgynous assistant, Alexa (Lusia Strus), and Henry’s constant jokes about Alexa’s sexuality.
Wing and director Peter Segal should have demonstrated more faith in their main plot and skimmed these unnecessary diversions like fat off a brisket.
As it stands, 50 First Dates offers some touching moments, mostly through the obvious chemistry between Sandler and Barrymore. For some reason they work better together than individually.
As comedy, 50 First Dates strains at times, but its beautiful Hawaiian backdrop and Beach Boy music do sort of lull you into the situation.
Or just think of it as a comedic homage to Christopher Nolan’s Memento.
Bob Bloom is the film critic at the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, Ind. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected] or at [email protected]. Bloom's reviews also can be found at the Journal and Courier Web site: www.jconline.com
Other reviews by Bloom can be found at the Rottentomatoes Web site: www.rottentomatoes.com or at the Internet Movie Database Web site:
www.imdb.com/M/reviews_by?Bob+Bloom
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