Access Atlanta > Movies > Blog > Archives > 2007 > July > 18 > Entry
Let’s count the various jokes in ‘Chuck and Larry’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Since Adam Sandler’s “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry” is a comedy — and a bawdy one at that — let’s count the different kinds of humor.
Fat jokes: 30. Most seem to be aimed at co-star Kevin James. Dead wife jokes: 2. Gay jokes: I must apologize, I gave up counting after 45.
“Chuck and Larry,” originally rated R but trimmed to obtain a PG-13 and running 110 minutes, opens in theaters nationwide on Friday. But I caught a screening Tuesday night. Sandler and James play, respectfully, Chuck and Larry, Brooklyn firefighters and long-time friends. In order to financially protect his two young children in the wake of the year-ago death of his wife, Larry comes up with a scheme for he and Chuck to pose as a gay couple and obtain domestic partnership rights
It’s a traditional Sandler movie, brimming with sexist images (how do filmmakers decide just how many busty Hooters girls need to giggle and bounce around Chuck’s apartment? Somehow, they arrived at the number five). There’s the aforementioned fat jokes, at their apex a bit involving the rescue of an overly obese man in an apartment house fire.
While this is mainly a gay-joke film that many might find offensive, “Chuck and Larry” ends up swinging both ways. To balance things out, our firefighters eventually learn to aggressively defend alternative lifestyles.
Here are a few other things moviegoers might be talking about:
The firehouse shower sequence: Crowded with bathing firemen, it takes the traditional drop-the-soap joke and twists it in another direction.
The dance: At an AIDS fund-raiser that Chuck and Larry call “homopalooza,” they are encouraged to take the floor and they improvise a memorable moment.
Jessica Biel: She seems to be in this movie mainly to wear tight clothes and skimpy underwear to show off her body. You can bet it’s a nice one.
The cameos: TV’s Richard Chamberlain shows up as a city official. Lance Bass has a quick moment as a band leader. And many of the small parts involve Sandler’s “Saturday Night Live” pals, including David Spade and Rachel Dratch.
(Click here to view photos from the premiere of “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.”)
Permalink | Comments (6) | Categories: Bob Longino
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By MW
July 19, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this
Wouldn’t Sandler and James play Chuck and Larry “respectively?” I’m almost completely sure they don’t do anything in this movie “respectfully.”
By Gary
July 19, 2007 2:23 PM | Link to this
Adam Sandler’s fan base has always been 13-year-old boys who always seem to find his “bathroom humor” hilarious. Thankfully, most of us outgrow that phase. Unfortunately there’s enough 13-year-old boys to justify movie studios hiring Sandler to keep producing this drivel.
By ff
July 20, 2007 11:55 PM | Link to this
sounds like gary might be gay
By Pup
July 23, 2007 8:26 AM | Link to this
DEAR GOD PEOPLE
This is a movie. It is not a social commentary on the state of affairs of the world!! Some people enjoy 2 hours of mindless humor that allows their mind to forget the issues at hand. Get off of your self righteous high horse and learn to laugh a little!
By Pup
July 23, 2007 8:27 AM | Link to this
DEAR GOD PEOPLE
This is a movie. It is not a social commentary on the state of affairs of the world!! Some people enjoy 2 hours of mindless humor that allows their mind to forget the issues at hand. Get off of your self righteous high horse and learn to laugh a little!
By Gary
July 23, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this
Hey ff, No I’m not but so what if I was? This has nothing to do with gay or God. It has to do with whether this is a good movie worth spending $$ on. It’s not. I like mindless funny movies too. I only have one rule. Make me laugh. Any idiot can tell a fat or a gay joke. Sandler was paid millions to tell the same jokes kids hear every day on the playground. I expect a lot more from a movie.