The main cast of "Just Go With It" including Jennifer Aniston, Brooklyn Decker, Nick Swardson and Adam Sandler"

Sandler and Aniston Create a Spark but Not Enough to Light a Fire

Which is worse? Finding out on your wedding day that your wife is marrying you solely for your money or a single man who wears a fake wedding ring to attract younger women?

In Adam Sandler’s latest Happy Madison production, Danny, a plastic surgeon (played by Sandler), must convince his devoted assistant, Katherine (Jennifer Aniston, “The Switch” 2010) to pretend to be his ex-wife. After Danny meets a beautiful 23-year old named Palmer (Brooklyn Decker) at a party, she reaches into his pant pocket to grab his business card only to grasp his “wedding ring.” Although Danny wears this ring around most every other girl, he didn’t this time. Palmer didn’t react favorably like all the other women Danny had met, however. She found it repulsive. Can you say, karma?

“Just Go With It” is your incredibly predictable Jennifer Aniston rom-com set in the midst of the beautiful Hawaiian Islands. Compared to much of Sandler’s recent flops like, “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan” (2008) and “Grown Ups” (2010), “Just Go With It” would be considered a breath of fresh air (which says a lot).

Although this film can be entertaining, it has much more potential. The script is underdeveloped and many of the jokes are lame and forced. This film takes after what once was a Broadway play, then turned movie in 1969, “Cactus Flower.” Some things are better left untouched. There were a few hilarious scenarios, however. Rachel Dratch (Saturday Night Live) plays one of Danny’s patients who had a botched plastic surgery around her eyebrow area. You could tell Sandler had fun with this one. He kept asking her how she was feeling since he couldn’t tell based on her facial expressions

In the case of “Just Go With It,” the phrase ‘practice makes perfect’ does not apply. Director, Dennis Dugan, also directed several of Sandler’s other blunders, “Grown Ups,” “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan,” “Benchwarmers,” and “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.” Why are Sandler’s movies getting progressively worse? As a director, I guess there isn’t a whole lot you can do when given scripts like these. It is okay to move on Dugan.

Getting back to the story, Danny pleads to explain himself and finally tells Palmer he has been in the process of divorce for a long time and is signing the papers in the next few days. (This is all a lie if you haven’t caught on yet). Palmer, still unsure of the situation, asks to meet his ex-wife to be sure she isn’t breaking up a marriage. This is where Katherine comes in, a levelheaded, single mother of two who knows nearly everything about Danny.

After learning of Danny’s yearning, Katherine agrees to pretend to be his ex-wife and claim her children as theirs. This comes with a price, however. Audiences go on a shopping spree with Katherine as she picks out an entirely new “hot” wardrobe for her meet and greet with Palmer. After a successful spree, she walks into lunch where Palmer and Danny are already sitting, turning heads upon arrival. Danny even has to do a double take. The lunch starts out well until Danny and Katherine start to ridicule each other to no end. Palmer discovers Danny and Katherine have kids together and begs to meet them, too.

Sandler and Aniston’s undeniable chemistry help keep this film afloat. After watching several interviews with both Aniston and Sandler promoting the film, we learn that much of their time on screen together was ad-libbing. Maybe these sporadic tendencies are what eventually lead to the title of the movie?

Even though Sony attempts to market this movie to men by showing a bikini clad Brooklyn Decker in the trailers, make no mistake, it is a romantic comedy through and through. This is not a movie a guy would go see with his buddies.

Before we know it, Danny, Katherine, Palmer and the kids are all on their way to Hawaii. Katherine’s pseudo fiancé, Eddie, (Nick Swardson, “Reno 911!”) who is Danny’s buddy from high school is also joining in on the fun. He disguised himself as a German man with Coke bottle glasses and a thick German “accent.” Eddie is hilarious with his laugh out loud antics. He is a highlight of the film.

The nightmare continues for Katherine, as she finds out her arch nemesis from college, Devlin Adams (Nicole Kidman, “Nine” 2009) is staying at the same resort. Now, it is time for Danny to get involved in Katherine’s web of lies. Between Danny and Katherine trying to keep both of their stories straight they end up finding out more and more about each other. So much so that…well, I’ll stop there.

While the award winning dramatic actress Nicole Kidman brings a big name to the film, she was miscast. Her talent in dramas is so fantastic and believable that it is difficult to see her as the bubbly, stuck up, sorority girl, Devlin. If this was her rom-com test drive. Let’s hope she doesn’t get behind the wheel again.

Bottom Line?

If you’re a guy: Even though an absurd amount of time is spent watching Brooklyn Decker ‘run’ in slo-mo along the beach in her ‘bikini’ you are better off saving that cold hard cash for the latest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, instead.

If you’re a woman: Shopping spree scene is fun, but again, an absurd amount of time is spent watching Brooklyn Decker ‘run’ in slo-mo along the beach in her ‘bikini.’

Jessica Aymond © February 11, 2011