‘Just Go With It’…just leave it be! ‘Cedar Rapids’…plan a trip soon!

I never really thought Adam Sandler to be that funny; his silly voices, his frat house humor, his perchance for falling to toilet humor and kicks to the groin to get laughs, it all really lost me about 5 years ago! Occasionally he hits it right, such as ’50 First Dates’ (although Drew Barrymore really carried that) and ‘Funny People’; in those films he played his characters more straight and let the laughs come more naturally. In ‘Just Go With It’, the remake of ‘Cactus Flower’ – a film that was impeccably done by Walter Matthau, Ingrid Bergman and a young Goldie Hawn (who won a Best Supporting Actress for her role), Sandler falls back into the goofy frat boy toilet humor that is neither funny nor interesting to watch. Within the first 10 minutes I was checking my watch to see if the pain was over yet. Mid way through the film I don’t think I heard a single laugh in the theater. By the time the end credits started to roll, I was exhausted and looking for the door, ready to trample my way through it and out the theater, wishing I had my hard earned $20.00 back!

Is it possible that such a unfunny movie could have been made? What bet did Jennifer Aniston lose to get stuck in this worthless piece of garbage? In fact, if it was not for Jennifer Aniston, the movie would have been completely unbearable. Sandler is a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon (really? That is only one of the MANY unbelievable moments in this wreck) who has been having one night stands for the past 20 years, pretending to be married. Suddenly, a young and very beautiful woman (Bailee Madison, in what could be a career ending first movie) walks into his life. To woo her, Sandler somehow convinces his assistant (Aniston) and her two children to be his soon to be divorced family. This film is crude, tasteless, filled with terrible comedic timing and just hugely unlikable. Only Jennifer Aniston comes through as likable, sweet and often seeming to be trapped in a film with no redeeming qualities what so ever. Skip this Zero star effort and complete waste of time.

If you want some real laughs and a fantastic time at the movies, skip ‘Just Go With IT’ and head to the nearest theater that is playing ‘Cedar Rapids’; the smart, funny and often sweet ensemble cast film lead by the very funny Ed Helms (The Office) and the always funny John C Reilly. Directed by Miguel Arleta, ‘Cedar Rapids; is a film that understands real comedy; comedy driven from the strength of the characters and not just the sheer volume of pratfalls.

Helms is insurance agent Tim Lippe, a very naïve adult who has never ventured out of his small Wisconsin hometown; he has never been on a plane, never stayed at a hotel and he has never experienced anything like Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Sent to an annual insurance convention by the company he works for, Lippe is tasked with winning the coveted ‘2 Diamond’ award, an honor bestowed upon the agency with the highest ‘moral’ standards.

Lippe is soon involved (and rooming with) three convention veterans; John C Reilly, Anne Heche (in a career revitalizing performance) and Isiah Whitlock Jr., who show him the ropes and take him into their fold.

Often filled with over the top crude language, the film never loses its sense of reality and sweetness. This is a smart and very human comedy that draws its laughs from the characters and the very way they handle the situations they are confronted with. While this is a limited release film, it is well worth the effort to go see this, no matter where the theater is located. A 4 star adult comedy to be sure!

‘Grown-Ups’ – It’s not even for kids!

Note to Adam Sandler, after such gems as: ‘Funny People’, the often misunderstood ‘Reign Over Me’, ‘Bedtime Stories’, ‘Click’, and ‘Spanglish’ – you can stop making useless crap like ‘Grown-Ups’ now. You don’t need the paycheck. But perhaps I am not getting it – perhaps you are really doing the favor for Rob Schneider and David Spade; it seems that the only way these two hacks can get into a movie is through their old buddy Adam Sandler. If I never see Rob Schneider in a movie again, I can die a happy man.

If your idea of funny is watching friends get peed on, shot in the foot with an arrow, fall face first in a pile of feces, socked in the genitals or other ‘pie in the face’ type prat falls for about 90 minutes, then maybe, just maybe, ‘Grown-Ups’ is the film for you. But judging from the amount of yawns and crickets I heard in the theater that I attended – opening weekend mind you – this is a movie that will quickly fade from existence and from Kevin James’ resume (if he is smart).

Adam Sandler is Lennie, a high profile Hollywood super agent who gathers his old school mates together after the death of their beloved basketball coach (they won a basketball championship – a big deal in the 6th grade apparently). There is the patio furniture salesman Eric (Kevin James), the house husband Kurt (Chris Rock, really Chris? Where is the foul mouthed bad boy we know and love?), the new-age healer Rob (Rob Schneider, who had to have his character named after him because that is the extent of his capabilities) and the deadbeat Marcus (David Spade, the same character he has EVER played). At the funeral the decided to honor the coach by traveling to their old home town and spend the weekend at a rented lake house with their families in tow.

Of course poor Lennie has two spoiled sons and a fashion designer wife (Salma Hayek) who want to leave immediately; right away Lennoe is the character we are meant to identify and sympathize with – for those ‘awww’ moments as he teaches his kids the values of skipping rocks. I think I nearly vomited a few times.

Even if you were to stack this up to other Sandler turkeys like ‘Don’t Mess With the Zohan’ or ‘Little Nicky’ – they would be Oscar winners compared with ‘Grown-Ups’. This is a lazy mess of a movie put together solely based on the knowledge that there are millions of Sandler fans that would pay money just because his name is attached to the film. Do yourself a favor – watch the trailer on YouTube – those are the funniest moments in the Zero star effort – save your money for a better movie; there might be one coming up soon!

As a matter of fact; take your money and run out to Redbox and get ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ – the original Swedish film based on the wildly popular novel by Stieg Larsson and is currently being developed here in American. But before then check out this outstanding effort starring Michael Nyqvist and Noomi Rapace as the resourceful computer hacker who can also kick some major butt!