The Do-Over

20 years ago, a movie starring Adam Sandler, Catherine Bell and David Spade would be plastered all over billboards and the trailer would be shown 50 times during an episode of Saturday Night Live. Well, fast forward 2 decades and it is basically the same movie – a movie from a decade where Adam Sander made funny movies and David Spade was a star (Catherine Bell, maybe the best actor of the cast really only has a cameo, so we can ignore her). However I was only told about this film from a friend, and I had no interest in it until he said it was good.

So the story has Spade (I won't use the character names because Sandler for all intents and purposes is Sandler and Spade is Spade, so why bother) living a unfulfilling life working at a bank and in a loveless marriage only to meet up with Sandler during a school reunion. Very soon Sandler fakes their deaths and hilarity ensues.

So it's Sandler doing Sandler, but it is good Sandler, so if you are 40 and remember his glory days of Happy Gilmore, this is a good reminisce. If you only remember Little Nicky, well here is a reminder of why he is a big Hollywood star. Spade has always been a very strong strait man, and the 2 actors do have chemistry. There are the obligatory cast of crazy side characters, who although maybe not classic, are definitely funny. The main villain should get s special nod here.

The movie has the Sandler style of dick and fart jokes, but they are more funny and less tasteless than I have seen in recently. The plot is silly, but of course it is supposed to be. However unlike some of his more recent movies such as Grown-ups which forgo plot for what amounts to set pieces of 'comedy', the movie does keep the viewer interested in what is going on.

To say that Sander is 'back' might be taking it too far, to say he has made a very respectable, funny movie that reminds me why he was a bright star of comedy for almost a decade is about right.

I enjoyed the film, and ultimately, that is what is important!

It's no secret that I have hated almost every Adam Sandler film in the last few years. They have consistently been terrible. So when I decided to watch The Do-Over, I did not have high hopes. I really expected the worst. I can say I was pleasantly surprised. Adam Sandler and David Spade actually delivered a decent and fun comedy.

Two guys down on their luck fake their own deaths to escape their terrible lives. They take on the identities of two dead guys who apparently had a lot of money and something to hide, and stumble into a world of action they never asked for. Now, being chased by assassins, the two middle aged average Joes must find out why they are being targeted.

A simple premise, yes, but it delivers. The story actually has a good plot and some decent, if sometimes sloppy, character development. Some of the jokes are still riddled with that adolescent humor that plagues Happy Madison films, but it also lands quite a few funny moments. This movie will never be considered a classic, or one of my favorites. But I am still glad I checked it out.

The acting in this movie is okay. The 2 leads portray their parts convincingly enough. Though it can feel a little lazy at times. The rest of the actors get the job done. Nothing spectacular. But also not bad.

The soundtrack has a fun vibe, full of country hits, and some mediocre, generic action film music. It feels okay within the film.

The script was good. It definitely had some twists. And it delivered a story with more emotion and depth than the usual Happy Madison productions. It is very predictable to a fault, but it still feels nice to follow the story as it progresses.

So, in the end, this is not a masterpiece. It is not Sandler's best work. But it is a lot better than most of the stuff he's put out lately, and I can say I enjoyed watching it. It's a Netflix Original movie, so check it out if you have a chance.

6/10

I am a fan of older Adam Sandler movies (Billy Maddison, Happy Gilmore, and old SNL with Farley). Everyone knows Sandler has done some terrible stuff in the past while, but this one wasn't the worst.

He wasn't terribly over the top or in your face like he is in roles for films like Zohan, That's my Boy, Jack & Jill. This film had genuinely laugh-out-loud moments; the cast really helps (Kathryn Hahn, Matt Walsh) - even David Spade is funny!

The movie isn't a classic. It isn't going to be one you're quoting. The film is enjoyable! If you're looking for a laugh, it's a good film to watch.

'THE DO-OVER': Three Stars (Out of Five)

Action-comedy flick, about two old high school buddies; that reunite at their 25-year reunion, and decide to fake their own deaths (in order to start new lives). Their new identities end up getting them in even more trouble. The movie stars Adam Sandler and David Spade, as the two leads; and it costars Paula Patton, Kathryn Hahn, Nick Swardson, Natasha Leggero, Torsten Voges, Luis Guzman, Matt Walsh and Sean Astin. It was directed by Steven Brill (who also directed Sandler in the movies 'MR. DEEDS' and 'LITTLE NICKY'), and it was written by Kevin Barnett and Chris Pappas. The film is the second movie, in a four- film deal, between Sandler and Netflix. Like nearly all of Sandler's movies, the film is pretty bad; but this one isn't as bad, as most.

Spade plays Charlie McMillan, a bank manager (attached to a grocery store); who's used and abused by his wife, Nikki (Leggero), and her two children. He attends his 25-year high school reunion, with Nikki (who's the former prom queen), and she cheats on him, with her ex-husband (Astin). He reunites with his old friend, Max Kessler (Sandler), who tells him he works for the FBI. Later the two go on a yacht trip, while Nikki is on a spa vacation, and Max (unexpectedly) fakes their deaths; so the two can start new lives together.

The movie gets a lot more complicated than that; it's actually (probably) the most plot driven Adam Sandler movie ever made (with a ton of twists). That's pretty much where the film's qualities end though. It's still full of a lot of bad dick and fart jokes (that aren't funny), and Sandler once again plays an unlikable asshole; who's much tougher than Sandler could ever possibly be (in real life). Spade is actually good in the movie though. It's interesting, for a change (from the usual bad Sandler movies), but nothing more.

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This movie I was expecting to be as bad if not worse than The Ridiculous 6 which I couldn't even finish, but I was pleasantly surprised with The Do Over. The movie has a good amount of laughs, and at some points kept me on the edge of my seat. I think that this is one of Sandler's best movies within the past 6 years. I was also very happy with David Spade's performance. I was expecting him to be just like he was in Grown Ups, as a stupid immature old man, but he surprised me as well. He kept the movie funny as well as maintained great acting the entire movie, as well as the whole cast. Overall, the movie was great. Great acting, great laughs, great action(which still surprised me), and one of Sandler's best in the past few years.