119. 50 First Dates

            50 first dates is another example of how Adam Sandler is able to use his sophomoric, man child humor and cross over to main stream appeal. Again pairing him with Drew Barrymore.And just like in the Wedding Singer their chemistry proves to be a powerful.
           But the plot of 50 First Dates is a little out there. But what Sandler movie a little out there? Barrymore plays a girl who sufffers from a brain injury that causes her to reset her mind everyday and forget all she met or did the day before. Causes her family to react that day over and over to protect. For example watching the Sixth Sense everyday.
           Sandler plays a lovable womanizer who takes it upon himself to woo this girl despite the condition she is in. So he tries day after day to get in her good graces. That part of the movie is playful but then it turns conflicting as San dler falls in love only to fully realize that her condition limits their love. Overall the movie has alot of charm, great supporting characters namely Sean Astin in his first non Hobbit role as a juiced up muscle wannabe.

 Final Verdict: Worth Owning.

114. Big Daddy

            Lots have been said about Adam Sandler. This blog, the 365 challenge, is a pro Adam Sandler blog. When it comes to the move Big Daddy I have always said it is his best movie he has ever done. I think he is hitting all qualities that make Adam Sandler who he is with this movie. Also why I think it is highest grossing movie he has made.
           In Big Daddy Sandler plays Sonny a all too immature man child who refuses to grow up. Despite the fact that everyone else around him has moved on to mature careers and relationships. I know this sounds like basically every Sandler role but this time he surrounds with more mature people making him looking more like a crazy person. So in order to fix this we decides to adopt a young child.
       The child in question is Julian who really isnt his son but his roommates son. That his roommate didnt know about. The heart of the movie is that throughout this story Sandler grows from a moronic parent who teaches his son that he name himself Frankenstein and eat ketchup for lunch. 30 packets of Ketchup! He goes from that to a caring, mature nurturing parental figure. Its a great flick and one even the Anti-Sandler person enjoys!

Final Verdict: The best Sandler and worth owning.

67. Grown Ups

                  Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, David Spade and Kevin James. Five comedy actors getting together to basically hang out with each other, rip on each other and oh yeah make a movie. Really, while the movie is funny, it comes across like just a reason to get together with all your best friends and act up. But it works.

           The plot is slim. 5 childhood best friends all grown up and back to together for their childhood basketball coach's funeral. They have all gone on to different life styles and different paths. Some are rich (Sandler), some are house husbands (Rock) and some are just still single (Spade). The best thing about this movie is Kevin James which I could write a whole blog about how much I love James. He is one of my favorites ever.  The movie is funny but there are some risqué parts in it.

                Cool story behind this movie is that these guys thought up this movie while they were all still on Saturday Night Live but with Chris Farley instead of James. It was an idea they always talked about but with the death of Farley they never thought they could pull it off. Sandler was quoted in saying that Kevin James is someone that this group thought they would never find again in their comedy group. So that was nice.

Final Verdict: Could see me owning it one day if I find it cheap.

29. Just Go With It

               Adam Sandler. What does one think about when you hear that name? First thing that always pops in my head is Billy Madison.  Maybe then Opera Man.  But do you still think Movie Star when you hear the name of Adam Sandler? You should.

                His movies have made over a BILLION dollars at the box office and its almost a sure thing when it comes to his style of movies. His latest, which we saw at the always awesome AMC 16 in Creve Coeur,  Just Go With It is good. Really good. I can't help but wonder when people will start to look past the sophomoric, frat boy humor that he injects into his movies and see the depth that he does layer his films with.  It's not all Happy Gilmore. Bedtime Stories, Click and 50 first dates have some of the most genuine heart tugging moments  that are just as good as any other movie.

  Just Go With It is about a guy whose whole scam to pick up women is to pretend he is in a bad marriage and plays the victim to get their sympathy. But he finally meets a girl who likes him for him but then mistakenly thinks he is married. SO he comes up with a plan to ask his assistant,  Jennifer Aniston, to play along as his soon to be divorced wife. Then it escalates to where her children are involved and it just keeps going and going and going.  In fact the two child actors that play the  children steal almost every scene they are in. Great casting there.  The movie is funny, lots of improv was involved and you can tell they were having fun making this movie.  If you liked 50 First Dates then you will love this one.

Final Verdict: I think it will added to my Sandler Collection.

Other Tidbits:

-Nicole Kidman plays a minor role and it was awesome to see her express her crazy zany side. And she was really funny.

-Sandler plays a plastic surgeon so look for many of his SNL alum who appear as his patients.

28. The Wedding Singer

                I love the Wedding Singer for many reasons. It’s funny, great soundtrack and I think it’s the first time we got to see some depth in Sandler. Up until now we have had Billy Madison (Classic!), Happy Gilmore (classic) but with the Wedding Singer this was the first time that Sandler broke away from the frat boy comedy for the entire movie and showed that underneath he is a romantic. It was also genius for being the first movie to really tap into the 80’s nostalgia. It not only paid off in the film but also the box office. The Wedding Singer became his biggest hit up to that point in his career.

                The wedding singer follows Sandler who starts as, well, a wedding singer.  His character is a romantic and after singing at weddings for years he finally gets his own wedding. But he gets left at the altar and becomes a cynic (LOVE STINKS!). This is also the first pairing for Sandler and Drew Barrymore who I think is the closest thing my generation has to the same magic that Hanks/Ryan have. Barrymore plays Julia, soon to be married and become Julia Gulia.

                Sandler falls for Barrymore but Barrymore is stuck with Glenn. A jerk that says he wants to marry Julia but still cheats around on her.  Sandler finally realizes his love for Julia and things culminate with an awesome song that Sandler sings to Barrymore on a plane right before she takes off to Vegas to marry the before mentioned jerk. Oh and Billy Idol is there too. I’m telling you this is a great movie.   

Final Verdict: Worth owning.

8. The Waterboy

You can do it! Man, I totally forgot how funny this movie was.

                The Waterboy is a (can't believe I am saying this) Adam Sandler Classic.  Starring as the Cajun wonder Bobby Boucher, Sandler leads a crazy bunch of misfits to college football glory! So over the top, so crazy, so funny.  Not to mention it also stars Oscar winner Kathy Bates and the Fonz, Henry Winkler. In fact Coach Klein is one of the funniest parts of the movie. Nothing beats seeing the man who is a TV icon sitting on a football trying to hatch it like an egg!

Sandler's movies are not for everybody. His humor is off color, sophomoric and sometimes genius. I would have never have predicted or thought that the man who gave us Billy Madison who go on to be one of the most popular and highest grossing actors of all time. Not all his movies are frat boy comedy. Big Daddy has plenty of depth and heart. So does Spanglish or even Bedtime Stories. But not Click. That’s just depressing! Anyway, haven’t seen the Waterboy in years. It was great to watch it. Also great to watch it with my wife who has never seen it! Final Verdict: Worth owning!

Best Quote: “Did they ever catch that gorilla that done escape from the zoo and punched you in the eye?”  “ No momma, the search continues” 

From Christiana: Jimmy says that since we watched this one together I have to write something. So here it is. This is the first time that I have ever seen Waterboy. I have heard good and bad things about. I find Adam Sandler hit or miss but I enjoyed Waterboy. However, I don't think Jimmy should ever complain about another one of my movies being unrealistic again!

Check out more about of Christiana's thoughts at http://youthministerswife.blogspot.com

The Plan of Attack and Bob Hope!

So what do I do? How do I attack these movies? Suddenly I had an idea….”Light Bulb!”. What if I take all the movies I own, put them on slips of paper, put those papers in a box and everyday/everytime I watch a movie I pull a slip and I have to watch whatever is chosen! So that is what is going to happen. At least 4-5 times a week I will watch a movie at random. Could be any of the 360 movies I own. Some days it could be The Goonies or on another days it's Groundhog Day.

What makes this even more interesting--Even more DANGEROUS. Is that included in that 360 are the movies that are owned by my wife that I would never ever bought on my own or owned if I weren't married to her. So, against my better judgment I could be setting myself up to enjoy such great movies as Fiddler on the Roof, the Bob Hop/Bing Crosby classic Road to Bali or the Sound of Music (on blu-ray!). About 25 of the 360 movies are ones that I have not only never seen, but wouldn’t ever have watched in my worst nightmares if it weren't for this challenge. But since my wife is in on this and has worked so hard (pictured) to help design the blog I feel like she deserves some humor (torture) from this. So they are lurking in the box wanting to get me when I least expect it.

So I say 4-5 a week minimum are movies selected from the magical movie box (pictured). Some weeks all 7 can be from there, but since we are avid movie goers I will blog about the movie we see in theatre on the days we get that opportunity. For example, this morning we went and saw The Dilemma. Good movie with Kevin James and Vince Vaughn. I would come home and blog about that movie. Also throw in the mix are movies that we may rent or download. Also movies we go to buy or are given to us as gifts. I will also take movie suggestions on what to watch. I've also thought of “theme weeks” I can do with my movies like a week of Adam Sandler or moves based on real life etc.

So that is the plan of attack and the journey I am setting out for the next year. Please join me as I watch 365 movies in one year! Most days I won't even know what I am going to watch. But the magical movie box will decide. So whether it’s a movie I love like Rudy or one that I am dreading like Road to Rio (no clue, another Bob Hope/Bing Crosby “classic” my wife owns) it will be interesting and fun……and DANGEROUS!