Adam Sandler is not just your regular comedian, he’s a guy who has a knack for creating some of the funniest and dumbest films out there. However, that ‘dumb fun’ era started quite later in his career. Before, he used to make films like 50 First Dates, which were full of heart and humor, even if they were lacking quite a lot in terms of depth, and missing almost every other minute in terms of writing quality.
How to Download 50 First Dates
50 First Dates was released on February 13, 2004. You can download the film from a digital store. You can also stream it. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice. If you like xxxx, check out also his other films – film one and film two. If you want to see more movies with Adam Sandler, check out Mr. Deeds, Anger Management, The Longest Yard, or Uncut Gems.
The Movie Review: 50 First Dates
50 First Dates is one of the earliest Rom-Coms I can remember watching. Adam Sandler plays Henry, a dude with commitment issues who falls head over heels for Lucy, portrayed by Drew Barrymore. Sounds normal, right? Not quite. Lucy has short-term memory loss, so every morning, it’s like Groundhog Day, but without Bill Murray, and the fact that Henry remembers everything that happened.
So, to prove his love for Lucy, Henry must find a way to convince her every single day that they’re in love. It’s sweet, it’s charming, and it’s got more loops than a rollercoaster.
Balancing Humor and Heart
The writing feels like it’s in a tug-of-war match between heartfelt and slapstick humor. Sure, the concept is gold—love conquers all, even memory loss—but the execution feels a tad messy. The humor hits the mark sometimes, but other times it’s like they’re trying to force-feed you laughs.
The dialogue’s decent, though, and some lines will very rarely but surely make you snort your popcorn. I did find that the writing was quite predictable, though, a lot of the time what you expect, will happen. The film does not throw many curveballs at you, even when it tries to subvert expectations.
Direction and Cinematography
Director Peter Segal straps us into this wild ride and does a solid job of directing, here. He manages to balance the whimsical romance with Adam Sandler’s goofiness without crashing into clichéville. But hey, there are moments when it’s a bit like he’s lost the map and takes a detour into a whole lot of corniness.
I mean, there are some sequences here that will make you cringe, and those moments will pop out at least once every ten minutes of screen time, that is a guarantee.
The Strength of the Lead Actors
Of course, the one thing that holds this film together more than anything else are the two main actors, and the characters that they’re playing. Henry and Lucy are MADLY in love, but it resets every single morning, so how do you show that without having a cast with great chemistry?
Well, we don’t have to imagine that, because both Sandler and Barrymore know exactly what to do here. They’re like peanut butter and jelly—oddly perfect together. Sandler’s doing his Sandler thing, and Barrymore’s as charming as ever. Side characters add flavor, but some are as forgettable as Lucy’s memory.
Visuals and Soundtrack
The film is not a visual treat, but it does match the vibe of the story unfolding in front of us. Hawaii’s scenic beauty takes center stage here, with its vibrant colors and stunning landscapes that almost make you forget that the storyline’s a bit like a broken record on repeat with the predictable beats. The production design’s decent, it wasn’t going to win any Oscars, but it was just right.
You could say the exact same for the soundtrack of the film too. The soundtrack is like a mixtape you’d make in your high school days if you were a high schooler back then. It’s full of nostalgic, tracks with a few cringe-worthy songs to even things out. The film doesn’t use music in the best way though, and besides the ending, I can’t really remember many moments where music had a key role in amplifying any emotions.
Verdict on 50 First Dates
I enjoyed my time watching 50 First Dates, it isn’t a groundbreaking film, nor is it the funniest or the most emotional, but it does manage to remain somewhat consistent throughout its run time. It has some decent highs but it will leave you a bit unimpressed in between. It’s funny, it’s romantic, but it’s lacking that extra oomph.
Still, it’s worth a watch for the cute moments and Drew Barrymore’s smile alone.
