Third Times Isn't Quite As Charming..."Blended"

Blended (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Kevin Nealon, Terry Crews, Joel McHale

Directed by Frank Coraci

The Story:

Jim (Sandler) and Lauren (Barrymore) go out on a blind date, and it ends horribly. However, fate keeps intervening and thrusting these two into each other. They wind up on an African safari together. Jim helps out Lauren's boys with some fatherly advice. Lauren tackles Jim's girls with some womanly know-how. It's inevitable, no matter how much either side fights at this point.

In 1994, it was movie magic when Sandler and Barrymore teamed up for The Wedding Singer.
In 2004, it was silly, but sweet, when they reunited for 50 First Dates.
In 2014, it's simply nostalgia to remind me to go watch The Wedding Singer again.

:)

That's not to say that Blended is bad. No, far from it.
It's safe.
It's comfortable.
It's... well, you know how to use a thesaurus. Pick something.

Barrymore and Sandler still share a warm chemistry with one another.

At this point however, you almost have to inject kids into the storyline to allow something new for these decades-spanning lovebirds to do.

So, nothing as great as their first pairing, but still enough warm smiles, fond memories and a chuckle or three, many thanks to the always manic Terry Crews.

Hopefully they have something magical in 2024 when they reunite again.
 
Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Maybe I'll pick it up someday, but no hurry. Maybe when they team up again in a decade?

How Sweet To Fall In Love Again Every Morning..."50 First Dates"

50 First Dates (2004)
Rated PG-13 for language and situations

Starring Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Rob Schneider, Sean Astin, Blake Clark

Directed by Peter Segal

The Story:

Henry Roth (Sandler) loves the ladies, but hates the commitment.  So he lives a life in Hawaii of love 'em, and send 'em back to the mainland.  But then he meets Lucy (Barrymore) and the two hit it off.  In fact, Henry thinks he could possibly be in love.  When he meets Lucy again, she blows him off like she doesn't even know him.  That's when we discover that Lucy was in an accident that robs her of any memories since the day of the accident.  How far is Roth willing to go to prove his love to Lucy?

In 1994, Sandler and Barrymore teamed up for the instant classic, The Wedding Singer.  It was a very funny romantic comedy that just sparkled all the way through, thanks to the great chemistry between Sandler and Barrymore.

Ten years later, the duo reunited, and while it didn't achieve the results of their first collaboration, it wasn't too bad.

The jokes are more crude and less sweet this go-round, so that has squashed the replay value in the house.

Which is a real shame, because the love story is one of the sweetest to watch unfold.

While Lucy's family goes through elaborate measures to ensure Lucy adjusts as easily as possible to her memory loss, it's Henry who chooses to stick around and endure the daily heartbreak of losing the love of his life.

In the end, Lucy lets Henry go, because she knows it's unfair to keep him tied down to her and her accident.

But no love story can end that badly, and what follows may actually bring a tear to your eyes.

I know it gets me every time.

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I do own it, but again, it doesn't get nearly the airplay as the first team up.