Movie Review #4 - 50 First Dates

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First check of the watch - about five minutes in because I was bored and then not again until the end

Let me get these three things out of the way first - I don't like Adam Sandler, I *really* don't like Drew Barrymore and I get as far away from romantic comedies as I can somehow I liked this movie a lot. Both Sandler and Barrymore turned in very good individual performances but together these two turned on the performance of a lifetime. These two sparked like Bogey and Bacall, like Burton and Taylor (not like Ren and Stimpy as I was expecting!).

This movie was touching and moving but without saccharine sweetness. Barrymore's portrayal of a woman with brain damage (and resulting amnesia) was well done and realistic - other than the perfect time lapse every day. Her family's elaborate attempt to maintain the facade is a perfect illustration of the way that families with members who have disabilities have to compensate and adjust and their forceful (and, in this case, violent) reaction to Sandler's "intrusion" is a strong sign of their commitment to that family member.

Nothing screws up this movie although the first 5 -10 minutes drag a little and the bizarre personal assitant sub-plot could have been dropped.

Apart from that, damn good movie and, once or twice, I think *cough* some grit may even have lodged in my eyes *cough*.