tragi-comedy
Jack and Jill makes it official: Adam Sandler doesn't care what kind of movie hestars in
Promotional poster for Jack and Jill
Happy Gilmore
Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore in The Wedding Singer
You Don't Mess with the Zohan
I’ve always feared this day would come: the day when Adam Sandler calls it quits, dresses up in drag and makes a movie just for the hell of it. And let’s be honest, that’s all that his latest flick, Jack and Jill, really boils down to.
Whatever happened to the talented comedian that starred in classics like Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy and The Wedding Singer? The last Adam Sandler film I genuinely enjoyed was 50 First Dates, which was released back in 2004 when I was 14 and Adam Sandler was still relatively funny. But then a year later, he starred in The Longest Yard, and everything started to go downhill.
Sandler got his first big break as a writer on Saturday Night Livein 1990, becoming an official cast member a year later. Slowly but surely, he began climbing the ladder and started to establish himself as a gifted comedic actor, writer and even musician (“The Chanukah Song,” anyone?). In 1995, he began his string of hit movies, starting with the cult classic Billy Madison.
For the remainder of the '90s, Sandler seemed to be everywhere, especially in 1998, when he starred in two feature films. He was winning over the hearts of women with The Wedding Singer, all the while teaching people about the "medulla oblongata" in The Waterboy.
Then, something strange happened. In the 2000s, Sandler started making movies like Little Nicky, Mr. Deedsand Eight Crazy Nights.
Then, something strange happened. In the 2000s, Sandler started making movies like Little Nicky, Mr. Deedsand Eight Crazy Nights. He also decided to show off his dramatic side in movies like Punch-Drunk Love, Spanglish and Reign Over Me.
Sandler’s Reign Over Me wasn’t all bad, and he flexed his dramatic muscle, so there was that I suppose. And 2004's 50 First Dates reunited him with Drew Barrymore.
Lately, Sandler’s been adding to the list of head-scratchers with movies like You Don’t Mess with the Zohan and Bedtime Stories. He was able to slightly redeem himself with another dramatic portrayal in Funny People two years ago, but then Grown Ups andJust Go With Ithappened. Jack and Jill is the final nail in the coffin, reaffirming my suspicion that at this point, Sandler doesn't even care what kind of movie he stars in.
He’s been in the game for so long and has been commercially successful for most of his career, so what else does he really have to prove? At least that’s what I’m assuming must be running through his head when he accepts these horrible scripts and offers.
The guy is successful, there’s no doubt about it. In 1999, he founded his own production company, Happy Madison Productions, and has produced more than 25 films (like Anger Management and Grandma's Boy) with no signs of slowing down. That said, something has clearly affected his ability to sort the good scripts from the bad. Even his production company is producing movies like Zookeeperand Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star, both of which clearly never should have seen the light of theater projectors.
With the theatrical release of Jack and Jill, I suppose it's only fitting to finally let go of the small hope I had that Sandler would star in an actual funny movie again. RIP Adam Sandler. You’ll be missed.
