50 First Dates (2004)

This movie is funny. It's packed with magnetically funny characters and the actors have great timing. The Sandman and Drew work great together and Schneider and Astin steal the show. The Hawaiian backdrop is gorgeous. I am a huge Minnesota Vikings fan and I love that my team is part of the movie, even though I have no idea why.But what I really love about this movie is the love story, I was surprisingly and, at times, overwhelmingly touched by Henry and Lucy's plight. During the conclusion, while Israel kamakawiwo'ol's version of "Somewhere over rainbow" plays gently, I had tears running down cheeks. Like a lot of Sandler movies, there is a beating heart mixed into the silliness. I heard this one loud and clear.

In his earlier efforts, Adam Sandler was known for his goofy comedy in movies such as "Happy Gilmore", "Billy Madison", and even "The Waterboy". With "50 First Dates", however, Sandler tries to add a bit of emotion into his juvenile sense of comedy. The result is closer to chaos than consistency.For a basic plot summary, this movie sees Hawaii-based ladies man Henry Roth (Sandler) living the bachelor life by churning through one woman after the other. When he meets Lucy Whitmore (Drew Barrymore), however, everything changes for Henry. The reason? Due to short-term memory loss, Lucy relives the same day over and over again, never remembering the events of the previous 24 hours. Thus, Henry must decide whether to take advantage of this situation, or help Lucy live a happier life.The trouble with this movie is that Sandler's crude sense of humor does not mesh well with the more heartfelt tone of the overall picture. It is almost as if two movies are going on at the same time...one where Sandler cracks sexual jokes with his buds (of which again include Rob Schneider), and one where Sandler interacts on a more personal level with Barrymore.It would have taken a great directorial effort to make this juxtaposition work, but unfortunately Peter Segal just wasn't up to the task in this case. The movie actually needed to focus a bit more on the "serious" stuff and leave off some of the crudeness. Had that happened, it would have worked much better due to the intriguing "memory-loss" concept.Thus, I was solidly underwhelmed by "50 First Dates". It isn't unwatchable, but it really can only succeed as an adolescent "date movie" for those new to Sandler's comedic persuasions. It may make you think/feel on a deep level for a second or two, but those moments are quickly abandoned for another crude joke or sight gag.

I'm not usually into romantic comedies, yet this one decided to work its way into my top favorite movies. I am a big fan of Sandler. His movies seem to be getting better as time goes on. 50 First Dates is about a man who falls in love with a woman whose brain damage causes her to forget him every night, and therefore he must make her fall in love with him each and every day. Despite its tragic plot, the comedic elements make the mood light and fun. The story fits together perfectly, the characters are great, and the ending is not quite what you would expect. It pulled at my heartstrings several times, as it will yours. It's one of the better movies out there. See it. 10/10

I was a little kid when I first watched this movie in 2005. Although it has been broadcasted many times on television since, I simply always enjoy to watch it every now and then. I almost never re-watch movies, but I always check this one out when it's on.The jokes are funny, but it's not just a laugh. The story has some sad parts and it really got me as a child, I still seem to find it a bit sad.In short I would say it's a good, romantic comedy movie about a really difficult relationship. From the moment Henry meets Lucy, to when he finds out about her memory difficulties and starts to make her fall in love with him everyday. In the beginning it comes with a lot of funny situations, but later on it starts to get harder when her family and Henry start telling Lucy about the accident every morning and she wants Henry to go on with his life without her. After a lot of struggles they still work it out and the happy ending shows Lucy and Henry are having a child now and are still together, while she still has the memory issues.I think the end the best ending this story could have had. I personally hate to watch a movie like this and have the characters split up at the end. I also would've disliked it if they made an ending with Lucy wonderfully getting her short term memory back, after one of the doctors they visit in the movie found a solution or something for it.I give this movie a 7 out of 10. Far from the best, but very enjoyable for me. The actors were great too.