America's college students have wasted countless hours arguing the relative merits of Adam Sandler's movies. Sandler is usually regarded as a one-trick pony gross-out goofball, so comparing his movies is as simple as comparing gags.
But the truth is that while his projects are rarely deep, every one of his films sees him moving in a slightly different direction from his last. And in \50 First Dates,"" we see a surprisingly sweet and sincere romantic comedy that places clearer emphasis on Sandler's natural warmth.
The movie centers on Henry Roth (Sandler), an aquarium veterinarian in Hawaii who seduces female tourists without ever having to commit to a relationship. One day he meets Lucy Whitmore (Drew Barrymore), a local woman, and falls for her, agreeing to meet her for breakfast the next day. When she doesn't remember him the following morning, he learns she suffers from short-term memory loss which makes her unable to remember a day's events the next day. Still smitten, Henry tries to reconnect with her every day and make their romance work.
""50 First Dates"" is quite possibly Sandler's least funny movie, but it succeeds in other ways. For the first half-hour or so, the jokes are flat and the tone is inconsistent. But over time, the story grows gracefully around Sandler's performance, and the audience is engaged. While the story seems at times to be like a screwy, inverse version of ""Groundhog Day,"" the pretty scenery and light-hearted chemistry of the cast give it a distinct charm.
Ultimately, it is the cast that makes the movie work. Sandler mostly steers clear of his beloved bursts of rage, opting more frequently for a goofy but low-key warmth that propels the romance.
Re-teamed with Barrymore, his ""Wedding Singer"" co-star, we once again see Sandler bring out the best in her. Barrymore is one of the most irritatingly demonstrative actresses in Hollywood, but here she manages to play her part with a straight face and a solid comedic cadence. Her chemistry with Sandler is remarkable. We understand why he consistently falls for her and why she is convinced by his repeated ploys, because there is something so believable about a romance between them.
What's most surprising is how well Sandler slinks into a classic romantic comedy mold. All of his movies, even the silliest, have elements of romance. But in seeing Sandler as a cad who battles against obstacles for his love, we begin to see elements of classic Cary Grant fare, even if Sandler's persona is far different. The smooth, low-key romantic strength makes ""50 First Dates"" transcend categorization with fluff like co-star Rob Schneider's films and puts straightforward romantic comedies like ""Sweet Home Alabama"" to shame.
The details of the movie work well, too. Sandler's character's occupation allows him to spend a lot of time with some very crowd-pleasing animals. And while director Peter Segal (""Anger Management"") tries a bit too hard with his visuals, he still does a good job of letting the audience enjoy the Hawaiian landscape. And while Hawaiians, at times, are depicted in strikingly undignified ways, it's basically the same treatment that white people receive in all of Sandler's other movies, so it's hard to complain.
Really, it's difficult to resent ""50 First Dates"" for any of its flaws, because it's so emphatically sweet. Almost all of Sandler's movies have their hearts in the right place, but none has found their emotional center as gracefully as this one. While some might prefer his hammier work in ""Billy Madison"" or ""The Waterboy,"" Sandler has grown here into a solid leading man in a genuinely romantic comedy. Not bad for a one-trick pony.
