When the names of Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore are mentioned in the same sentence, minds cheerfully float back to 1998’s ‘The Wedding Singer’ and 2004’s ‘50 First Dates’.
With such charming chemistry between the two stars, one asks what the third pairing in Frank Coraci’s ‘Blended’ could possibly get wrong. The short answer is: almost everything.
Sandler plays Jim, a widower trying to raise three girls who are in desperate need of a mother. Barrymore plays Lauren, a single mother trying to raise two boys who are in desperate need of a father. If at this point you feel like you want to tap Mr. Plot on the shoulder and gently whisper: “It’s okay. You can stop now. I get it”, then you’re not alone.
After a disastrous first date at Hooters, the two halves of this slightly-more-than-obvious mathematical film equation decide that they hate each other and vow never to meet again. Though through a number of ill-conceived coincidences (and the usual fair share of Sandler smut), both families end up on the holiday of a lifetime in Africa. Not the real Africa though, just a 5 star Americanised resort spa located in Africa, where Terry Crewes and his backup singers painfully spell out every major plot point through the magic of song.
The problem with ‘Blended’ lies within the fact that it confuses itself. Billed primarily as a romantic comedy, it feels aesthetically more like a family film, one which is not suitable for family viewing. Because the film thematically pushes family harder than romance, we begin to care about our two lead roles less and less. And although the easy flowing chemistry between Sandler and Barrymore is present, the series of sketches that piece together to form the story just aren’t emotionally satisfying.
‘Blended’ throws comedic punch after punch at its audience, and to be fair a few of these hit their mark, but the overall majority swing and miss, leaving the actors laughing on screen while the audience rustles their popcorn.
In comparison to Sandler’s latest films (‘Jack & Jill’, ‘That’s My Boy’ and ‘Grown Ups 2’), ‘Blended’ isn’t entirely terrible. Audiences could easily see it as an entertaining movie, but would balk at labelling it as a satisfying piece of cinema.
★
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