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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 25, 2004)
INTER FA IN M ENT HE BATTALION 7 A Thursday, March 25, 2004 KIT I Q U E Kh,2( “50 First Dates” Columbia TriStar Movies Starring Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore and Sean Astin i Photo Courtesy of • COLUMBIA TRISTAR Barrymore (left) plays Lucy, who suffers from hort-term memory loss as the result of a car acci- lent. Her boyfriend Henry (Adam Sandler, left) relies In a scrapbook and other memorabilia to make Lucy pllin love with him on a daily basis. •DEI CAST. c conferti I ndtracl" ange. meandi nuances tening our frietj landihai Let’s pretend this movie was never made. Adam Sandler's comic reputation as a sweet ofball would still be intact, Sean Astin's nesake would still evoke warm images of kudy Ruettiger and hobbits and Rob Schneider (wouldn't be richer after profiting from native 'awaiian stereotypes. Instead, Sandler, Drew Barrymore and Astin ill have to recover from massive injuries to act- 5credibility due to “50 First Dates.” Sandler plays Henry Roth, a veterinarian at a ianimal water park in Hawaii who heals pen- and walruses by day and beds gorgeous tioning tourists by night. Commitment-pho- |)ic, Henry has always relied on the tourists* short ays to the island to avoid the burden of a rela- (ionship. Just when he begins to tire of the play- :rlifestyle, he sees the lovely Lucy (Barrymore) laying with her food while he eats breakfast at a local diner and it’s instant attraction. The two hit it off. After Lucy coldly rejects his come-ons the next time they meet. Roth is informed by the community that his love interest suffers from short-term memory loss caused by a caraccident. Roth must impress her each day and strives to make a personal imprint on her memo ry, which fades each night. She eventually depends upon Roth, along with her scrapbooking skills, to re-teach her about her life after the injury and to make her fall in love with him on a 1 daily basis. With a plot reminiscent of “Groundhog Day,” “50 First Dates” tries to repeat the success of “The Wedding Singer” by combining Sandler and Barrymore again in a chemistry that doesn’t work this time. Attempting to merge sensitivity and comedy is an admirable task, but this film falls short of its intentions. Some characters evoke a laugh or two here and there, such as Astin, who plays Lucy’s younger, lisping brother Doug, or Rob Schneider, as the native Hawaiian and professional loafer Ula, who smokes joints when he isn’t insulting his wife. But many punchlines fall flat - if the audience can recog nize the punchlines at all. Hawaii may be a typical setting for a tropical fantasy love story, but an island where short-term memory loss is a minor hurdle to a relationship and beautiful women fawn over Sandler with an insatiable sexual appetite is a fantasy land indeed. Note to females vacationing in Hawaii: Don’t drink the water. The only actor emerging from this movie unscathed is Barrymore, who maintains a believ able sincerity and lovability as Lucy amidst hor rible acting by her costars. The soundtrack, fea turing mostly covers with some reggae tunes for good measure, will appeal to almost any music fan and sets the scene for Hawaii well. “50 First Dates” suffers from split personality disorder: One minute it’s a Farrelly Brothers low brow comedy, complete with a vomiting walrus; the next, it asks for the audience’s sympathy as Henry and Lucy’s family observe memory-loss patients on a visit to a clinic for the brain-dam aged. The scene re-enacting the car crash that caused Lucy’s head injury is meant to be serious, but a slow-motion shot of a pineapple floating through the air interrupts the situation’s gravity. Also, the memory-loss patient “10-Second Tom,” who can’t even get through a series of personal introductions without having to start over, is more pitiful than humorous. Scenes of Lucy in emotional turmoil after learning of her terrible condition don’t flow among walrus genitalia jokes. Even director Peter Segal seems aware that “50 First Dates’” script doesn't have much going for it, judging by the abundance of animal reaction shots - a signa ture of desperate comedy. Aside from the noteworthy soundtrack, “50 First Dates” is disappointing in “The Wedding Singer's” shadow. Although it could be argued that getting to see Rob Schneider clobbered with a baseball bat is worth the movie ticket price alone, Sandler fans seeking laughs will be better off at home watching their VHS tape of “Billy Madison.” - Julie Bone the spring bridal event march 26 & 27 widest selection original designs exceptional service INCREDIBLE FINANCING Receive 12 months interest-free financing on purchases made during the event! Qualify early by calling 764-8786 today. (JavicI qarcJner's Jewelers ♦ Gemologists the ring source for hopeful couples come in, get comfortable and make her dreams come true Visit the store at 522 University Drive E. (Between the Suit Club and Audio Video) Call 979-764-8786 for an appointment. ■ Aifoiv - "'‘•m -jir Sid The Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Consider Summer School! Get Ahead Stay Ahead 10. Stay on target, get ahead of degree plan, or just catch up! 9. Graduate earlier! 8. Enjoy smaller classes with easier access to faculty! 7. Have a no-hassle "What to Do?" with your 12-month apartment lease! 6. Make your eligibility date for that Aggie ring order! 5. Gain easier access to classes difficult to schedule! 4. Get basic classes out of the way, and get a jump on the year ahead! 3. Get that "pesky" course out of the way! 2. Find out why "Five weeks beats four months"! 1. Enjoy shades, shorts, and sandals in Aggieland! Interested in Summer School? See your academic advisor for details. Additional financial aid funds are also available this summer. For information, contact the Department of Student Financial Aid at 979.845.3236 or email to financialaid@tamu.edu, or get the facts online at http://myfinancialaid.tamu.edu/. For off-campus housing assistance, contact Adult, Graduate, and Off-Campus Student Services at 979.845.1 741 or email to ochousing@tamu.edu, or go to http://aggiesearch.tamu.edu on the Web. Remember, summer school pre-registration starts April 8! Get Ahead Stay Ahead Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Associate Provost for Academic Services Texas A&M University