50 First Dates - Finally!

I have finally caught up with the six movies I watched BEFORE starting my blog! Movie #6 is 50 First Dates. I forgot how dang HILARIOUS this movie is! I don't think I stopped laughing the entire time...well, of course I stopped during the moments when Lucy would find out she was in the car accident and lost her short-term memory...to laugh would be cruel. What kind of a person do you think I am?

50 First Dates centers around Henry Roth, played by Adam Sandler. Henry Roth is a womanizer who has one-night stands with tourists visiting the island, and then he makes up over-the-top stories as to why he can never see or talk to any of them again - for instance, the opening scene when he runs away and jumps on a jet-ski because the FBI is calling him. One day, however, Henry meets Lucy (played by Drew Barrymore). He finally meets the girl of his dreams and falls in love. Only problem? The issue I listed above - Lucy was in a car accident and lost her short-term memory. So, every day she wakes up and doesn't remember Henry. He thinks of creative ways to talk to her each day, and this makes for such a heart-warming story. He literally has to make Lucy fall in love with him over and over again. It's adorable, and I love it.

The cast is spot on, but I guess casting is ALWAYS spot on in an Adam Sandler film. Even though I am not a big fan of Sandler, I am a gigantic fan of his casting regulars. Rob Schnieder is a casting director's dream if they need a crazy character. His portrayal of Ula is fantastic. He had me in tears the entire film!

I also thought that Sean Astin as Lucy's brother, Doug, was priceless. Sean Astin is funny. I don't know if anyone was aware of it, but apparently Adam Sandler's casting director is in tune with it. Why he hasn't been in more comedic movies is beyond me. He has a gift. He should ride that comedy wave. Sure he was good in LOTR as Sam, but that's BORING. Spice it up a bit, Astin. I loved you as the 'roid popping, lisp speaking idiot brother. Amazing.

With an Adam Sandler/Happy Madison film, I find it fun to search for his casting regulars. There are three guys that he has included in 95% of his films since he started it all with Billy Madison 18 years ago: Allen Covert, Jonathan Loughran, and Peter Dante. Look it up. It's true. My husband and I are in automatic search mode every time we go to see a Happy Madison Production.

Overall, I loved this movie. I give 50 First Dates a 4.5 out of 5 stars.