Sweethearts Cinema Countdown #6

Good morning everyone.  Ah, another Tuesday is here.  If we can get through today, we can get to Wednesday, and then it's all downhill from there.  I don't know about you all, but I'm looking forward to getting some much needed sleep this weekend.  I'm also looking forward to checking out at least one new movie in theaters this weekend.  I haven't yet decided what to go see.  But for those of you who are looking for something to watch with that special someone as you count down to valentines Day, why not try out today's pick on the Sweethearts Cinema Countdown.  From 2004, and starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, number six on the list is 50 First Dates.

Rom-coms are a dime a dozen.  So are Adam Sandler movies.  As a matter of fact, a good rom-com is as hard to find as a good Adam Sandler movie.  However, in 2004, Sandler actually did star in one of those rare movies that's turned out to be both a good rom-com and a good movie from Sandler himself.  That movie is 50 First Dates. 

The plot behind 50 First Dates is a bit of a stretch.  The very concept of Lucy (Drew Barrymore) having short term memory issues as extreme as hers is a bit far fetched.  But there's no denying that it's an original way to execute a rom-com.  It shows that maybe, just maybe, once in a lifetime can happen more than once.  It was really the first glimmer of hope for Sandler's longevity as an actor.  Before this movie, Sandler had largely made a career of making low brow, sophomoric frat boy style comedies than anything with any real substance or staying power.  But this movie is more grown up than those works.  It showed that Sandler could still do his low brow comedy.  At the same time, it also showed that he could do something more grown up, too. 

50 First Dates carries the standard theme of love conquers all.  That theme is in any romance movie, whether it be rom-com or drama.  But there's no denying that having Lucy suffer from a memory problem actually adds a certain "mature" dramatic element that in the end helps to give the movie its real staying power.  Sure, its the standard boy meets girl-loses her-gets her back in the end.  Maybe it's just that Sandler made such a name for himself with movies that are less funny the older audiences get.  Maybe it's the originality of the execution that makes it so enjoyable.  Maybe it's a combination of all of that.  Either way, there's no denything that when it comes to the annals of actual worthwhile romantic movies, 50 First Dates is one that does and always will stand out as one of the elite.

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Philip Sayblack can be contacted at psayblack@wnct.com