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Back Shelf Beauties
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50 First Dates 50 First Dates sounds like my dating track record - lots of first chances, lots of first impressions, not many second dates. I guess you can only fool some of the women some of the time.
Adam Sandler stars as Henry Roth - an aquarium veterinarian and Hawaiian
lothario. When single ladies come to the island for a dream vacation, he
"gets friendly" with them during their short time in Hawaii. Then, Henry
dumps them at the end of their visit, so he never has any attachments or
emotional baggage. It's all going well for him, until he meets Lucy (Drew
Barrymore) and spends one fantastic day getting to know her. They agree to
get together for breakfast the next morning, but that's when Henry learns
that Lucy has no short-term memory due to an automobile accident. For her,
every day is Can Henry and Lucy find true love? 50 First Dates might seem like a strange Valentine's Day movie due to Sandler's presence and reputation, but, once you see it, you'll realize that it's perfect for couples looking for a special night out. After a rocky start with some typical Sandler-style gross out humor and over-the-top stupid characters, 50 First Dates finds its soul. Writer George Wing makes this movie into a sweet, touching tale about a man who loves a woman so much that he's willing to do whatever it takes to make her fall in love every single day. He sets up a touching conflict where Lucy's family is trying to protect her, and Henry is trying to love her. It's an emotional battle that is made better by the fact that everyone seems to be acting for the good of the person they love, without cheap tricks that make someone the obvious bad guy. Wing also creates wonderful dialogue between Henry and Lucy that sparkles, and competes with some of the classic romantic comedies. They say the silly things to each other that only the couple in love could ever find amusing and heart warming, just like real life. Ultimately, Wing's script will be judged on one, crucial decision. You and I know that many movies start off with a cool premise, but fall apart because the writer has put his characters into a corner that only a ridiculous, unbelievable and upsetting plot twist can solve. Thankfully, Wing goes for an ending that is true to the spirit of the film as it has been presented to us. You can live with this ending, and I can't imagine a better one, much like I can't imagine two other actors in these roles. While we got to see some great chemistry between Sandler and Barrymore in The Wedding Singer, they are even better in 50 First Dates. He will never be a traditional, suave, Cary Grant-like leading man, but Sandler is representative of his fans and becomes one of them on the screen. He has an amazing way of showing Henry's vulnerability and nervousness in an endearing way. Sandler knows how to stammer and fidget at just the right moments, and in a way that shows us how much Henry cares underneath it all. You can understand how a woman would fall for this earnest man. On the other side, Barrymore also knows how to get the most out of her role. She is heartbreaking when needed, like when she learns the truth about her condition, but also embodies a girl next door sexiness (OK, I have a crush). Barrymore makes the character a sweet, lovable gal that could break your heart. 50 First Dates is a wonderful mix of sweetness, funniness, surprise appearances from comedy favorites and wacky characters. 3 Waffles (Out Of 4) Copyright 2004 - WaffleMovies.com
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