(From syracusenewtimes.com)
Adam Sandler can play a goofball, all right, 10 times over.
I mean, I still laugh when I see him rolling around on the ground fighting Bob Barker in “Happy Gilmore.”
Sometimes, though, for my fellow Brooklyn native and I, it’s a swing and a miss. I need only go back to last summer’s “Grown Ups 2” for my most recent eh.
But when his co-star is Drew Barrymore, now, it’s a different story. “The Wedding Singer” and “50 First Dates” top my list of favorite Sandler films, Barrymore films, Sandler-Barrymore films … and I’m sure they’d make the top high-up if I sat down and made a list of my favorite romantic comedies.
So I had high hopes for “Blended.”
It met them.
Sandler and Barrymore click once more in this tale of Jim and Lauren, the widowed dad and split-up mom who hate each other and then tolerate each other and then, well, cue cupid and your favorite love songs.
There’s a smattering of Sandleresque slapstick bits, and Barrymore is the butt of some of the physical humor, too. But Drew’s calming influence refuses to let things spin too far off-kilter. The heart of the film always beats on.
Yay, Jim and Lauren. You have now joined Robbie and Julia from “The Wedding Singer” and Henry and Lucy from “50 First Dates” as a couple that made me root for you.
If you’d like to read my review of “Blended” on the Syracuse New Times site, click the link below.
http://www.syracusenewtimes.com/becoming-blended-again/
Who are your favorite on-screen actor-actress pairings? What are your favorite romantic comedies? Are you pro Adam Sandler or con Adam Sandler?
Mark Bialczak 
I love these two. Sounds like a good one for the exercise bike.
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Yes, these two have the chemistry, MBC.
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Love both Sandler and Barrymore. But how can you not include Andie and Benji in How to Lose a guy in 10 days. Hudson and McConaughey. They have to be in the top five!
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OK, Kim, you got it!
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🙂
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Oh my, almost forgot! I love Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in a couple movies!
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Yes, those too were great in ‘Sleepless in Seattle,’ Robin!
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I like Adam Sandler and also, love Drew Barrymore. I enjoy their playfulness, but I do cry real tears when the ending of “50 First Dates” comes. I am in awe of the idea of having to begin each day, letting the wife know, “Hey you are married, you have a child and we are waiting for you here in the home…” the patience and wisdom given, along with the funny parts are very meaningful in life. We all need humor and patience. I am looking forward to this new movie. I like so many romantic comedies, it would be hard to pick another current one, which would compare to this one. I will choose one from the past, the spunky and sparring roles that Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, are ones that come to mind, Mark! Thanks for this great review, too!
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Yes, I agree that ’50 First Dates’ carries a great message of hope and optimism, Robin. This one is very hopeful, too. And I hope that you like it!
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I’m VERY con-Sandler, but I do like Drew, so on your say-so, I’ll probably give this one a shot. 🙂
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I’m a huge fan of this team, as well. I happen to love all the movies you mentioned. I have had a crush on Adam Sandler for…my whole life. He is adorable, funny and a good guy. A triple threat, I think. My favorite movie of his is Spanglish…now I have to go watch it. I’m also a huge fan of Kevin James and Rob Schnieder…they all make me laugh. I should have been born on the east coast…
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The jury is out for me regarding Adam Sandler although I lean towards liking him. Drew? Gosh, I like her more and more as she matures into such a lovely woman and actress. I suspect she could knock a serious role out of the park. One of my favorite on-screen pairings was Minnie Driver (Tiny Motorist, as her friends call her) and Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting.
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Thanks for the post, Mark. I’m not a Sandler fan but I am looking for a few sweet summer movies to watch with my husband. I’ll put this on one the list 🙂
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This will be a good date pic for you and your hubby, Angie. Enjoy.
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Will do & thanks again, Mark. I’ve already mentioned it and look forward to some laughs 🙂
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I WILL SEE THIS MOVIE! I am having fun just watching their promos for this. 🙂
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Better than superheroes, super funny AND sensitive, too, Colleen. Your list gets a plus-one.
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I think I might start liking this thing called “movie watching”. 🙂
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this sounds good, i loved wedding singer too, andi know adam can be hit or miss at times, so good to hear this is a winner. i love drew in everything i’ve ever seen her in and when they’re together, there’s certainly onscreen magic and fun in store. and for the record, my fav romcom ‘4 weddings and a funeral,’ something about hugh’s onscreen boyish charm. )
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I agree that ‘4 Weddings’ was a good one, Beth, though I grew tired of Hugh Grant always playing Hugh Grant. I know, I should cut him some slack …
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Thanks for the reviews, Mark. I have mixed reactions to Mr. Sandler, too. I thought he was particularly amazing in ‘Funny People.” I haven’t seen “The Wedding Singer” or “50 First Dates,” but both movies are now on my list, because of your enthusiastic recommendation.
My all-time favorite romantic-comedy duo is Spencer Tracey and Katherine Hepburn. Other ones I’ve enjoyed, coming to mind right now: Goldie Hawn and Burt Reynolds in “Best Friends,” Ryan O’Neal and Shelly Long in “Irreconcilable Differences,” and — most recently — Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson in “Something’s Gotta Give.”
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You have picked great ones through the eras, Ann. Good work, there. If you get a chance to see Adam and Drew, I’d like to know that you think about the way she can rein him in.
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I like adam and drew, I also love Matthew mcconaughey and Kate Hudson as a couple.
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As far as Kate goes, mx4b, I will throw in her and young-looking Patrick Fugit in ‘Amost Famous.’ She and Matthew are good, thanks for adding that couple!
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Good to hear this wasn’t a miss. I agree that Sandler can go overboard with the adolescent and irritating sometimes, and yet also be outright endearing. We do need a Spencer/Tracy for this generation.
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Some pairings bring out the best in each other. But as far as Drew goes, she was pretty great with Jimmy Fallon in ‘Fever Pitch,’ the Red Sox romantic comedy, too, but just a tad shy of these Sandler collaborations in my estimation. Yes, I’d love to be won over be a new couple, wouldn’t you?
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Yes, I would!
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