Sandler, Barrymore shine day after day in '50 First Dates'

Reel Reflections

The bad hair found in "The Wedding Singer" is gone, but the laughs Adam Sandler ("Anger Management") and Drew Barrymore ("Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle") provide in "50 First Dates" prove to be their finest team-up yet.

Although guys might argue that no film possibly could have surpassed Sandler's "Happy Gilmore," director Peter Segal pulls off a perfect blend of comedy and romance. This combination makes the film enjoyable for both men and women alike.

Set in beautiful Hawaii, Henry Roth (Sandler) is a commitment-phobic bachelor and veterinarian thriving on one-night stands with tourists until he meets local girl Lucy Whitmore (Barrymore). He instantly falls for her delightful good-heartedness and independence.

When he meets her father (Blake Clark, "Intolerable Cruelty") and her steroid-using brother, Doug (Sean Astin, "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King"), they inform him that she was in a terrible accident and has lost her short-term memory. So, Lucy now wakes up every day thinking it is her father's birthday.

Henry spends what seems like 50 dates trying to help her remember who she is and to fall in love with him all over again, only for her to forget about him the next day.

In the film, he even forgoes his dream trip to Alaska in order to be with Lucy. Their on-screen chemistry is enjoyable because there seems to be a connection not only when they are kissing, but also when they merely are talking. Henry's commitment to one woman who will not remember him the next day is hopelessly romantic and admirable.

Rob Schneider ("The Hot Chick") plays Henry's hilarious and perverted Hawaiian best friend, Ula. Schneider also had comical and memorable roles in "Big Daddy," "Mr. Deeds," "The Waterboy" and "Little Nicky" with Sandler.

Barrymore's character has charm and sweetness that make her likable, despite the irritating fact that she cannot remember anything from one day to the next. Her willingness to fall in love with Henry day after day is a leap of faith.

Humor still is used to win over the audience. The comedy varies from side-splittingly hilarious or gross-out tactics such as a giant walrus spewing enormous amounts of vomit — but that is to be expected and is considered acceptable in a Sandler flick. This trademark humor is explained by the fact that the film was produced by Happy Madison, owned by Sandler himself in conglomeration with Flower Films.

The soundtrack almost is as enjoyable as the film itself. Produced by Maverick Records, it includes several remakes of '80s and early '90s hits such as "Hold Me Now" by Wayne Wonder and "Every Breath You Take" by UB40. As usual, Sandler included his unique voice on the soundtrack with his original tune "Forgetful Lucy."

In a time when only serious and dramatic films get recognized, "50 First Dates" is light-hearted and actually fun to watch day after day after day.