Judy Thorburn's Movie Reviews
Jack and Jill | Adam Sandler, Katie Holmes, Al Pacino, Dana Carvey, David Spade | Review
- Details
- Category: Judy Thorburn
- Published on 14 November 2011
- Written by Judy Thorburn
Judy Thorburn
Jack and Jill
If Adam Sandler thinks because he has been a top comedy draw and audiences will be entertained by anything his production company puts out, he needs a reality check. You are only as good as your last work and sad to say, Jack and Jill stinks. Even his most avid fans must admit his latest effort is a loser. Come to think of it, most of his film comedies of late have been lame.
This time, Sandler takes on a dual role as Jack and Jill Sadelstein, 43 year old fraternal twins, who look identical except that she has has longer hair and boobs and talks in a slightly higher pitch with a lisp. Jack is a successful advertising executive living in a spacious Los Angeles mansion with his pretty, supportive wife Erin (Katie Holmes) and two adorable children, Sophie (Elodie Tougne) and adopted Indian son Gary (Rohan Chand) who has a strange habit of taping all sorts of objects including tools and animals to his head and body.
Jack's life is disrupted when lonely, single Jill, who still lives in the Bronx, comes to visit him for Thanksgiving bringing along her pet cockatoo Poopsie. Jill is loud and annoying and winds up extending her stay through Hannukah to the dismay of her brother whose upcoming plans include a luxurious New Year’s Eve cruise with his wife and kids on Royal Caribbean’s new Allure of the Seas (one of numerous product placements). Jack comes to the conclusion that the only way to make his life easier and not be driven crazy, is by finding Jill a man. So, he turns to the Internet, searching for a potential mate for Jill on Craig's List and other matchmaking sites, which only winds up being a disaster.
In the meantime, Jack is busy trying to figure out a way to persuade Al Pacino (yes, he plays himself) to be the campaign spokesman for Dunkin Donuts new Dunkaccino TV commercial. To satisfy her request for some “twin time”, Jack decides to take Jill to a Laker's game, where as luck would have it, (only in the movies) they meet up with Al Pacino. As IF this would ever happen, Pacino falls head over heals for Jill, whom he sees as the inspiration for the character Dulcinea from Man of La Mancha. She also might be the reason for him to accept the lead role of Don Quixote in an upcoming production of the musical.
Under the sloppy direction of Dennis Duggan, Jack and Jill is overloaded with the kind of stupid humor that doesn't cut it any more. For instance, being Jewish doesn't mean it is OK for Sandler to get away with offensive Jewish stereotypes jokes. The elderly, homeless and other minorities are also targets. If that doesn't tickle your funny bone, sight gags, fart jokes and other toilet humor are par for the course.
Another thing that is par for the course when it comes to Sandler's movies is the inclusion of several of his old buddies from Saturday Night Live who can't secure a movie role without him, or so it seems. Among the many celebrity cameos that include Shaquille O’Neal, Bruce Jenner, Drew Carey, John McEnroe, Christie Brinkley, Regis Philbin and even Johnny Depp, are appearances of former SNL castmates Tim Meadows, Dana Carvey, Norm MacDonald and David Spade who shows up in total drag looking like a busty, blonde version of Jersey Shore's Snooki.
Al Pacino must be trying to follow in Robert De Niro's footsteps moving from heavy drama into comedy, but rather than being funny, his performance is embarrassing, ridiculous, and almost painful to watch.
The most entertaining moments are in the opening and closing credits that show cute and funny interactions between real life twins. That is as good as it gets. Everything in between falls flat.
Over the years, there have been several “men in drag” comedies, from “Some Like It Hot” to “Tootsie” and “Mrs. Doubfire”. Jack and Jill doesn't come close to being as charming or the least bit funny or likeable. What this so called comedy is, is a drag, in more ways than one.