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I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry

Reviewed by Elliot V. Kotek (November 2007)

Director: Dennis Dugan
Writers: Barry Fanaro (screenplay), Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor (screenplay), Lew Gallo (treatment)
Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Jessica Biel, Dan Aykroyd

In-a-nutshell: 
Chuck & Larry has a premise sure to bother pro-rights groups with insensitive Neanderthal-esque sentiment while simultaneously advocating same-sex marriage and tolerance of sexual identity. The fact it's a Sandler vehicle means we shouldn't hold the film to loftier goals than a few laughs over Sunday take-out, so feel free to take either position and enjoy your pizza.

Larry, a widower with two kids and mounting utility receipts, is struggling as a single fire-fighter parent whose pension benefits will be lost along with his life if anything should happen to him on the job. With new laws that declare "equal benefits for domestic partners," Larry appeals to his NYFD pal, a womanizing Chuck "Mr. February" Levine (Sandler) to help him fake matrimonial kinship to ensure his progeny are protected.

Jessica Biel looks great and acts herself into the front of the pack of serious contenders competing for the title of rom-com queen (alongside Eva Mendes, Kate Hudson and Katherine Heigl). With supporting spots and creative cameos from the regular Happy Madison brigade (David Spade, Rob Schneider and Steve Buscemi) as well as Ving Rhames, Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Dratch, Lance Bass, Dave Matthews and "Daily Show with Jon Stewart" stalwart Rob Corddry, and despite the challenges of cheesy clichés, the pic is full of enough insanity and genuine moments of madness to keep fans of the fun duo well fed.

 

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures/Happy Madison Productions
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