No compensation was received for this post. Courtney attended a screening and press junket, which facilitated the writing of this post.
It’s funny; BLENDED is one of those rare movies that’s about a family, but may not necessarily be for families. Though this is probably Sandler’s most sentimental film in his comedy canon, it might be too edgy for those seeking heartfelt humor rather than jokes of the low hanging fruit variety. Nevertheless, the film manages to find a good blend of charm, wit, resonance and likeability from leads Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.
Divorced, type-A mom of two boys Lauren (Barrymore) is going through a tough time; her ex-husband Mark (McHale) is an absentee father and a real jerk. Similarly, widowed sporting goods store manager Jim (Adam Sandler) is going through a rough patch with his three young girls; teen Hilary (Bella Thorne) is going through puberty, preteen ESPN (Emma Fuhrmann) talks to her dead mom like an imaginary friend, and youngest Lou (Alvia Alyn Lind) is yearning for a girlie girl new mom. After the adults are set up on a disastrous blind date and vow to never see each other again, fate intervenes. They are once again thrown together – this time at a posh African safari resort with their kids in tow to witness the pair’s I love you/ I hate you shenanigans. And as you can probably guess, these two must learn to relax, “just go with it” (see what I did there?!), and eventually – duh – fall in love.
Director Frank Coraci, who’s not unfamiliar with balancing heart and humor (having done so with THE WEDDING SINGER and HERE COMES THE BOOM), does the same here. There are some resonant, well-earned, and shockingly subtle emotional moments – like with the plate of passion fruit and how Jim and ESPN’s delicate father- daughter dynamic is handled. But there are also a few see-through and pushy ones too – it’s clear they were trying to find their own “tent moment,” a la THE HOLIDAY, when Lauren sings “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.” You might fall for those and that’s okay. I found myself uttering “why am I crying during an Adam Sandler movie,” a few times. Shocking – I know! Julio Macat’s cinematography also augments the film’s atmosphere. Shooting everything during “the golden hour” evokes strong, warm feelings and furthers our love of the match made in heaven that is Sandler and Barrymore’s cinematic symbiosis.
While there aren’t two people I’d rather see paired together in a modern day romcom (THE WEDDING SINGER and 50 FIRST DATES are enchanting adorableness), BLENDED’s tendency to put greater value on cheap potshots and sitcommy situations is what dulls some of this film’s brilliance. For the amount of good it does as a commentary on grief, the modern notion of family, and that relatable feeling that you just can’t to do anything right by your kids, the script by Ivan Menchell and Clare Sera makes some missteps too. I thought sporty and smart Hilary – who (of course) experiences a beauty metamorphosis during the run time – looked beautiful the way she was. However, her father lobs mean-spirited potshots at her like it’s a Comedy Central roast. Plus, it’s sad that the film’s running gag is her constantly being mistaken for a dude. Post-makeover (when her father finally sees her as a woman), the inherent situational humor takes a turn. Sure, fathers want their daughters to be little forever, and most don’t know how to handle burgeoning womanhood, but there’s an obvious and tangible difference showcased here.
Also, I often have a problem with how Sandler’s films portray women – JACK AND JILL and JUST GO WITH IT being the worst offenders. We’re either “bitches” or “boobs,” and this film isn’t much better. Barrymore’s Lauren is barely fleshed out; she’s a typical uptight chick who needs to loosen up. Wendi McLendon-Covey gets some funny material, but her character is pretty thin too. And while trophy wife Ginger (Jessica Lowe) seeks a motherly connection with her stepson, the audience knows she’s really just there to be “the bimbette.”
Overall, however, the sentiment in the story won me over. Almost acting as a meta comment on what real-life blended families go through, BLENDED experiences a few jolting hiccups, but it’s on the right path. I just wish the journey could have been smoother for a couple of America’s sweethearts.
3.5 out of 5
BLENDED opens on May 23 and is rated PG-13.
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Courtney Howard is the Senior Editor/ LA Correspondent for VeryAware.com. She also is a contributing writer for ReelVixen.com, ThatsItMommy.com, and SassyMamaInLA.com. She resides in Southern California with her husband and perfect little dachshund.
Images: Warner Bros.
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