Blended Review

Rated PG-13 (Crude and Sexual Content, and Language)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 57 Minutes

Cast-

Adam Sandler-Jim Friedman

Drew Barrymore-Lauren Reynolds

Bella Thorne-Hilary 'Larry' Friedman

Emma Fuhrmann-Espn Friedman

Alyvia Alyn Lind-Lou Friedman

Braxton Beckham-Brendan Reynolds

Kyle Red Silverstein-Tyler Reynolds

Kevin Nealon-Eddy

Jessica Lowe-Ginger

Zak Henri-Jake

Wendi McLendon-Covey-Jen

Terry Crews-Nickens

Abdoulaye N'Gom-Mfana

Shaquille O'Neal-Doug

Dan Patrick-Dick

Alexis Arquette-Georgina

Dale Steyn-As Himself

Directed by Frank Coraci

Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore's still-effervescent chemistry manages to save "Blended" but just barely.

Note: Screened on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13.

In his review for Paul Thomas Anderson's 2002 dramedy "Punch-Drunk Love," Roger Ebert (who tragically passed away last April) praised Adam Sandler's performance in the film and wrote that it finally 'may liberate [the actor] for a new direction in his work. He can't go on making those moronic comedies forever, can he? Who would have guessed he had such uncharted depths?' Yes, who would've guessed that Sandler—a "Saturday Night Live" alum-turned-Hollywood star who built an entire career out of playing idiotic man-children—could actually act? Other than 2004's "Spanglish," 2007's "Reign Over Me" and 2009's "Funny People," Sandler hasn't dabbled in drama in years so the answer to Ebert's question is yes, he can go on making those moronic comedies forever. After suffering through garbage like 2012's "That's My Boy" and last year's even more asinine "Grown Ups 2," I had pretty much given up on Adam Sandler. With the exception of a handful of films, Sandler was never held in high esteem amongst critics as his brand of comedy often leaned toward being juvenile yet he was funny, or at least he used to be, with the early man-child characters he played having an endearing quality to them. Now, he just wants studios to bankroll his vacations. I had the lowest of low expectations when I went into the advance screening for his latest film "Blended," which pairs Sandler with Drew Barrymore for the third time (the two previously starred together in 1998's "The Wedding Singer" and 2004's "50 First Dates"). It's overlong by thirty minutes, the jokes rarely land, and the raunchy tone frequently clashes with its family-friendly sentimentality but "Blended" manages to just barely pass muster thanks to the still-effervescent chemistry of its two leads. For Sandler, that's the equivalent of winning an Academy Award.

Dick's Sporting Goods manager Jim Friedman (Adam Sandler) is a recently widowed father struggling to raise his three daughters—Hilary (Bella Thorne), Espn (Emma Fuhrmann), and Lou (Alyvia Alyn Lind)—while professional closet organizer Lauren Reynolds (Drew Barrymore) is a divorced mother with two rowdy sons—Brendan (Braxton Beckham) and Tyler (Kyle Red Silverstein). Although the two single parents aren't quite ready to open themselves up to a new committed relationship, they agree to meet for a blind date. Unfortunately, the date ends in disaster, with Jim and Lauren relieved that they'll never see each other again. A surprising chance encounter at a local drug store leads to their credit cards getting mixed up. When Jim goes to Lauren's house to give her credit card back and retrieve his own, he overhears her best friend Jen (Wendi McLendon-Covey) complaining to Lauren that she broke up with her boyfriend Dick because he wanted her to meet his five kids on their planned trip to South Africa. Learning that Dick also happens to be his boss, Jim calls him up and asks if he and his family can go on the trip in his place while Lauren also does the same with Jen. When the two families arrive at the luxurious Sun City resort and casino, they find themselves sharing a week-long holiday getaway designed just for 'blended' families. Jim and Lauren are none too happy about this development but slowly and surely, the two warm up and fall in love with each other.

Terry Crews and his offbeat 'Greek chorus' offers a few consistent laughs.

During a recent interview on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," Kimmel flat-out asked Adam Sandler if his films are really just flimsy excuses for paid vacations. Enthusiastically confirming what we've all known for years, Sandler goes on to explain that he's been doing this since 2004's "50 First Dates." I don't know whether I should be angry or call him a f*cking genius! The fact that he's a producer also allows him to routinely cast Hollywood's prettiest actresses as his leading ladies, from Kate Beckinsale (2006's "Click") and Salma Hayek (the "Grown Ups" films) to Winona Ryder (2002's "Mr. Deeds") and Katie Holmes (2011's "Jack and Jill"). Honestly, who can blame him? No matter how bad Sandler's films get, people will still flock to theaters to see them, like a moth to a flame. Fortunately, "Blended"—which reunites Sandler with director Frank Coraci for the fourth time—is by far the best film the "SNL" alum has made in years but that's not really saying much considering that Sandler's work prior to this one were so atrocious that it made me want to claw my own eyes out. The sole reason that "Blended" is watchable is because of the on-screen pairing of Sandler and Drew Barrymore. The two are clearly close friends and enjoy each other's company. Watching their characters fall in love in the film brings back nostalgic memories of their effervescent chemistry in 1998's "The Wedding Singer." It also helps that Barrymore is pretty much game for anything and acts as a welcome check against Sandler's more idiotic impulses. However, the comedian still manages to sneak in some of his trademark man-child humor, like having a sweet moment between Jim and Lauren ruined by a shot of two rhinoceroses f*cking each other. Other than those few instances, Sandler remains likable despite appearing exhausted in certain scenes.

Although "Blended" can often come across as mawkishly sentimental, its scenes of familial bonding are at least laced with a genuine sincerity. When Lauren puts Lou to bed and sings Somewhere Over the Rainbow to her, it's actually quite touching. The use of an offbeat 'Greek chorus' led by Terry Crews' Nickens provides some nice, consistent laughs but Coraci fails to fully take advantage of his film's unique setting. Despite being shot on-location in South Africa, the exotic location feels more like a walking advertisement for the Sun City resort and casino, and that's not mentioning the egregious product placement from Dick's Sporting Goods and Hooters. Hell, it doesn't even seem like the cast and crew spent a lot of time in the country as there are moments where Coraci simply resorts to using stock footage. The scene where Lauren goes parasailing is especially guilty of this as it's readily apparent that Barrymore is floating in front of a giant green-screen.

The younger cast members manage to provide some decent, if one-note, comic relief.

"Blended" could've also used a little more time in the editing room. With a running time that clocks in at one hour and fifty-seven minutes, the film is thirty minutes too long and is packed with time-wasting subplots that include Hilary (played by a charming Bella Thorne, although it's hard to believe anyone can mistake her for a boy) desperate to break out of her tomboyish shell and Kyle Red Silverstein's Tyler yearning for a father figure to play baseball with him. It doesn't help that the script—written by Ivan Menchell and Clare Sera—spends too much time trying to make sense of its contrived set-up and then drags on in a third act of will-they or won't-they. Of course Jim and Lauren get together; that much is already clear just from IMDB's one sentence synopsis! Well, at least the younger cast members like Emma Fuhrmann, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Braxton Beckham and the aforementioned Silverstein aren't overly annoying and manage to land some decent, if one-note, laughs.

Released on May 23, 2014, "Blended" has, not surprisingly, received overwhelmingly negative reviews with 14% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics panned it for 'lurching between slapstick and schmaltz without showing much of a commitment to either [as the film] commits the rare Sandler sin of provoking little more than boredom.' Although the audience responded well to the film at the advance screening, "Blended" ultimately flopped at the domestic box office with a Memorial Day weekend gross of $18.2 million. Looks like Sandler's fan-base are now wise to his schemes and are voting with their wallets. Still, I don't imagine the actor is too concerned as he still has a slew of projects in various stages of production. At its worse, "Blended" is barely tolerable and at best, it's a decent time-waster. These days, that's pretty much a glowing recommendation for Sandler.

Final Rating: 3 out of 5

*Honestly, none of the lines are all that memorable.*