Apatow’s Fault?
In the possibly correct view of N.Y. Post critic Kyle Smith, Adam Sandler‘s Grown-Ups — which currenty has an 8% Rotten Tomatoes rating — was more or less sired by the lackluster commercial response to Judd Apatow‘s Funny People, in which Sandler played a realistic but somewhat dislikable comic. He didn’t like the vibe so he turned around and went full-whore commercial.
“Sandler (whose much sharper early comedies were unjustly maligned by critics) can be an interesting writer and actor,” Smith writes, “but whenever he gets spooked by the reception of grown-up work like last year’s Funny People, he becomes Hollywood’s real-life Billy Madison — skulking off to the least challenging path. In response, I was aching for a real-life Click, so I could fast-forward through the nullity and get on with my life.”
Smith’s right. Look at what he has in post-production: “Just Go with It” (A man enlists the help of a woman and her kids to land the woman of his dreams.) and “Jack and Jill ” (he plays twins; a man and a woman). Both are directed by Dennis Dugan. And he has something called “Untitled Mitch Albom/Adam Sandler Project” in development. Pretty frightening. I think were looking at the second coming of Patch Adams.
Smith’s right. Look at what he has in post-production: “Just Go with It” (A man enlists the help of a woman and her kids to land the woman of his dreams.) and “Jack and Jill ” (he plays twins; a man and a woman). Both are directed by Dennis Dugan. And he has something called “Untitled Mitch Albom/Adam Sandler Project” in development. Pretty frightening. I think were looking at the second coming of Patch Adams.
Reviews like that one are why I read Smith despite his politics — he’s the only right-wing critic who seems to have (a) a real love of movies and (b) a mind of his own. Love this quote:
“How desperate is Grown Ups? At one point it pauses and all but begs for applause as the guys proudly hoist an American flag. I momentarily wished for a Canadian birth certificate. The movie couldn’t be more pathetic if it hired clowns to dash through the audience tossing handfuls of candy and gum.”
can you imagine Medved, or one of Breitbart’s flunkies, writing something like that?
Reviews like that one are why I read Smith despite his politics — he’s the only right-wing critic who seems to have (a) a real love of movies and (b) a mind of his own. Love this quote:
“How desperate is Grown Ups? At one point it pauses and all but begs for applause as the guys proudly hoist an American flag. I momentarily wished for a Canadian birth certificate. The movie couldn’t be more pathetic if it hired clowns to dash through the audience tossing handfuls of candy and gum.”
can you imagine Medved, or one of Breitbart’s flunkies, writing something like that?
It goes without saying that Armond White loved it:
“Director Dennis Dugan shows such actorly, egalitarian rapport that Grown Ups surpasses the recent French film The Father of My Children. Grown Ups has a natural, spontaneous sense of how friends of shared sensibility grow apart yet stay instinctively intact. The mocking personalities are never guileful;; the insistence on friendship resembles Leigh’s insight and Renoir’s grace but crossed with stand-up comic candor. ”
It goes without saying that Armond White loved it:
“Director Dennis Dugan shows such actorly, egalitarian rapport that Grown Ups surpasses the recent French film The Father of My Children. Grown Ups has a natural, spontaneous sense of how friends of shared sensibility grow apart yet stay instinctively intact. The mocking personalities are never guileful;; the insistence on friendship resembles Leigh’s insight and Renoir’s grace but crossed with stand-up comic candor. ”
Smith’s a “right-wing” critic. Good to know. I didn’t see that in his dossier. Glad we’re keeping score.
Speaking of… anybody have any info on the voting record of Bob Grimm of the Reno Daily News?
“Just Go With It” sounds lovely. Wouldn’t it be sweet and unexpected if he learned that the so-called “girl of his dreams” ended up being shallow and heartless and he ironically ended up with the woman with the kids who he enlisted? Awwwww.
Smith’s a “right-wing” critic. Good to know. I didn’t see that in his dossier. Glad we’re keeping score.
Speaking of… anybody have any info on the voting record of Bob Grimm of the Reno Daily News?
“Just Go With It” sounds lovely. Wouldn’t it be sweet and unexpected if he learned that the so-called “girl of his dreams” ended up being shallow and heartless and he ironically ended up with the woman with the kids who he enlisted? Awwwww.
George: Thanks for sharing the White quote. I love it. I know I’m supposed to be horrified, but the audacity of comparing Dugan to Leigh and Renoir is so breathtaking that I stand in awe of White.
It doesn’t hurt that I kinda liked “Grown Ups.” So it’s me, White and Owen “B-” Gleiberman. I don’t mind the company. But I’d never compare the film to Mike Leigh and Jean Renoir.
George: Thanks for sharing the White quote. I love it. I know I’m supposed to be horrified, but the audacity of comparing Dugan to Leigh and Renoir is so breathtaking that I stand in awe of White.
It doesn’t hurt that I kinda liked “Grown Ups.” So it’s me, White and Owen “B-” Gleiberman. I don’t mind the company. But I’d never compare the film to Mike Leigh and Jean Renoir.
HIs mainstream work is critic proof. I can laugh all day long to Mr Deeds. One star reviews mean nothing. If you like him you like him. I do and find his movies silly but funny.
HIs mainstream work is critic proof. I can laugh all day long to Mr Deeds. One star reviews mean nothing. If you like him you like him. I do and find his movies silly but funny.
Hasn’t Sandler always switched between the usual fare and something more challenging (including, yes, SPANGLISH)?
REIGN OVER ME seemed to be the only time where Adam wanted to do something serious and make it appeal to his traditional audience–and it stiffed on both counts.
Hasn’t Sandler always switched between the usual fare and something more challenging (including, yes, SPANGLISH)?
REIGN OVER ME seemed to be the only time where Adam wanted to do something serious and make it appeal to his traditional audience–and it stiffed on both counts.
This thing reminds me of Step Brothers. Rich movie stars releasing their home movies to make easy cash without having to do any of those pesky things like craft a script or develop actual characters.
This thing reminds me of Step Brothers. Rich movie stars releasing their home movies to make easy cash without having to do any of those pesky things like craft a script or develop actual characters.
With that cast, Grown Ups looks like the comedy event film of the year. The year being 1999 of course. If it was just the comics goofing around and ragging on each other for 80 minutes I’d be up for that, but why do I get the feeling there’s going to be a lot of hugging and learning in this movie? And why do I also feel that it seems like a bigger budget remake of the (non) classic Louie Anderson/Richard Lewis/Richard Belzer vehicle The Wrong Guys?
I like Sandler when he goes full-bore ridiculous, like Don’t Mess With The Zohan or Billy Madison. Not so much when he goes for the Jerry Lewis-style pathos. Still, I’ve got nothing but respect for the way he’s handled his career. If more SNL alumni followed his lead and generated their own material instead of waiting for a great script to fall on their heads, we’d have a lot more of them opening movies and lot fewer headlining NBC sitcoms.
With that cast, Grown Ups looks like the comedy event film of the year. The year being 1999 of course. If it was just the comics goofing around and ragging on each other for 80 minutes I’d be up for that, but why do I get the feeling there’s going to be a lot of hugging and learning in this movie? And why do I also feel that it seems like a bigger budget remake of the (non) classic Louie Anderson/Richard Lewis/Richard Belzer vehicle The Wrong Guys?
I like Sandler when he goes full-bore ridiculous, like Don’t Mess With The Zohan or Billy Madison. Not so much when he goes for the Jerry Lewis-style pathos. Still, I’ve got nothing but respect for the way he’s handled his career. If more SNL alumni followed his lead and generated their own material instead of waiting for a great script to fall on their heads, we’d have a lot more of them opening movies and lot fewer headlining NBC sitcoms.
It’s not unusual for a big star/director to go to the safe zone after a more challenging project under-performs. I don’t think it’s stretching to guess that the (false) assumption that Seven Pounds was a flop caused Will Smith to sign for Men In Black 3D. Does anyone here think that Peter Jackson would be in apparent talks to direct The Hobbit had The Lovely Bones been better received?
It’s not unusual for a big star/director to go to the safe zone after a more challenging project under-performs. I don’t think it’s stretching to guess that the (false) assumption that Seven Pounds was a flop caused Will Smith to sign for Men In Black 3D. Does anyone here think that Peter Jackson would be in apparent talks to direct The Hobbit had The Lovely Bones been better received?
I agree with Scott here, this is still a very expensive business and for every Grown Ups Sandler pulls off, he can go back to the well for a PT Anderson or Reign Over Me type project. Sandler has really tried to diversify over the years and still remain prolific. He makes one of these family friendly popcorn comedies every year and then takes on something more interesting every other year. You also have to respect his loyalty to his friends, many people often talk about bringing their “boys” along for the ride if they ever make it big and Sandler really followed through on this promise without torpedoing his own career. I admire the guy immensely from a professional standpoint.
Does anyone really begrudge a guy for spending 3 months making a comedy with his best friends in a vacation location that will probably gross 100 million dollars following a movie like Funny People where he played a very honest, but unlikable comic that I am sure touched on as many personal demons as Sean Penn has explored recently.
I agree with Scott here, this is still a very expensive business and for every Grown Ups Sandler pulls off, he can go back to the well for a PT Anderson or Reign Over Me type project. Sandler has really tried to diversify over the years and still remain prolific. He makes one of these family friendly popcorn comedies every year and then takes on something more interesting every other year. You also have to respect his loyalty to his friends, many people often talk about bringing their “boys” along for the ride if they ever make it big and Sandler really followed through on this promise without torpedoing his own career. I admire the guy immensely from a professional standpoint.
Does anyone really begrudge a guy for spending 3 months making a comedy with his best friends in a vacation location that will probably gross 100 million dollars following a movie like Funny People where he played a very honest, but unlikable comic that I am sure touched on as many personal demons as Sean Penn has explored recently.
A joke, I’m sure Crabtree, but Grimm’s voting record could be stated in two words, “legalize it.”
A joke, I’m sure Crabtree, but Grimm’s voting record could be stated in two words, “legalize it.”
Im getting sick of all the critical holier than thou. Sandler was not trying to remake The Godfather with Grown ups. I saw it last night and had a good time watching it. It was a fun 2 hrs. What is wrong with that. Why all the Sandler hate. Not every movie and Tv show is aiming for high art. We have gotten to the point, if a movie isnt a 4 star classic its shit! Come on!
Im getting sick of all the critical holier than thou. Sandler was not trying to remake The Godfather with Grown ups. I saw it last night and had a good time watching it. It was a fun 2 hrs. What is wrong with that. Why all the Sandler hate. Not every movie and Tv show is aiming for high art. We have gotten to the point, if a movie isnt a 4 star classic its shit! Come on!
Yes he is Travis; on Smith’s own website blog he’s not at all subtle about it. It’s basically synchronized with BH.
Yes he is Travis; on Smith’s own website blog he’s not at all subtle about it. It’s basically synchronized with BH.
Thank you Poseidon for making the point much more succinctly than my flailing effort. Why are we now forced to feel bad if we want to watch some mindless fluff on Sunday night like Entourage as opposed to 8 1/2.
I remember being in film school and being that obnoxious type that wanted every movie to be LA Confidential and my dad just loved good old action movies. 10 yrs later I see where he is coming from, half the time I sit to watch film or tv I just want to be entertained brain be damned.
Thank you Poseidon for making the point much more succinctly than my flailing effort. Why are we now forced to feel bad if we want to watch some mindless fluff on Sunday night like Entourage as opposed to 8 1/2.
I remember being in film school and being that obnoxious type that wanted every movie to be LA Confidential and my dad just loved good old action movies. 10 yrs later I see where he is coming from, half the time I sit to watch film or tv I just want to be entertained brain be damned.