50 First Dates Review


Verdict:  Pushes all the right buttons and pushes them expertly

There's something in Drew Barrymore that brings out the best in Adam Sandler, and there's something in him that brings out the best in her.

"50 First Dates" is an almost perfect Valentine's movie. Like the starsÕ last collaboration, "The Wedding Singer," itÕs charmingly romantic and funny (think chick flick). And, like so many of SandlerÕs lowest-common-denominator comedies, it's suffused with slapstick and gross-out gags (think very-guy Sandler fan).

The set-up is sinfully simple. Henry Roth (Sandler) is the sort of guy whose idea of a lasting relationship is one that lasts however long the tourist he's romancing plans to stay in Hawaii. Not exactly a womanizer, he believes an island fling can spice up anyone's vacation. (As we see in an amusing montage of his former dates, the emphasis is on anyone. )

Then he meets Lucy (Barrymore) , an adorable art teacher who likes to make little teepees out of her breakfast waffles. Henry is smitten and Lucy certainly seems interested, but there's a hitch: She lost her short-term memory in a car accident. So, much like Bill Murray in "Groundhog Day," she repeats the same day over and over. Going to the local cafe for her waffles, reading the same newspaper, painting lilies in the family garage and still being shocked by the ending of "The Sixth Sense," which she invariably watches after the nightly dinner of spaghetti and pineapple upside-down cake. But unlike Murray, Lucy's the only one who has no idea this is happening. That's partly because her gruffly loving dad (a lovely Blake Clark) and her witless, body-building brother (an unrecognizable and terrific Sean Astin) spend all of their time stage-managing an elaborate charade. They keep stacks of the same fake newspaper, repaint the garage too-bright white so she can paint over it and feign surprise at "The Sixth Sense's" secret (by now, they usually doze off mid-movie).

The damage, according to Dr. Dan Aykroyd, is irreversible. Undeterred, Henry focuses every moment of every day on making Lucy fall in love with him all over again. As you might suspect, there are complications.

The incredibly annoying Rob Schneider, whose entire career these days depends on the kindness of his former "Saturday Night Live" colleague, does an irritating, sub-par Cheech Marin impersonation as Henry's best pal, a "native" Hawaiian with a bevy of cute kids straight out of Elvis' "Paradise Hawaiian Style." Still, Schneider serves a purpose Ñ he takes on most of the cretinous humor, leaving Sandler free to be funny in more creative ways.

That doesn't mean the star doesn't share some quality silly time with a hammy walrus or fool around on a golf course a la "Happy Gilmore." But for much of the picture, he's a viable romantic-comedy lead - part Jerry Lewis, part Jude Law. And Barrymore is radiant - and very funny.

Ultimately, aside from the gifted supporting cast and the picture-postcard locations, "50 First Dates" comes down to chemistry. And who would have ever guessed the goofy little girl from "E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial" and the goofy guy from "Billy Madison" could strike such delicious sparks.



Copyright © Cox News Service