Sandler’s new film
has some issues

At the Movies
By Senitra Horbrook

After spending more than an hour and a half making fun of homosexuals, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry makes an abrupt about-face. All of a sudden, making fun of gays is not cool or funny for the main characters. The final 15 to 20 minutes, I felt like I was watching a different movie.
I’m all about promoting tolerance, but I found the humor in Chuck and Larry hypocritical.
There also have been claims of racism (Rob Schneider plays a pretty offensive Asian minister) and sexism (Jessica Biel’s character) by some who have seen the movie.
Nevertheless, in the eyes of the legions of Adam Sandler fans, he can do no wrong. I think he does some wrong here.
Ladies’ man Chuck Levine (Sandler) and widower Larry Valentine (Kevin James) are two New York City firefighters who enter into a domestic partnership to make sure Larry’s pension benefits go to his two kids in the event of his untimely passing. During this charade, they must convince everyone they are "big-time fruits" or face legal consequences if found to be defrauding the system.
Chuck and Larry go overboard to convince naysayers that they really are a couple. After moving in together, they go to costume parties and also shop for the items they think gay couples need. Apparently it works, because some co-workers shun them while others are inspired to "come out."
Larry gets hit on by his mailman. Chuck becomes gal pals with their attorney Alex (Biel). Chuck and Alex go on shopping sprees, and Alex, believing that Chuck is gay, has no problem stripping down to nearly nothing and inviting Chuck to see for himself that her assets are real.
The movie also goes overboard in proving to the audience that Chuck and Larry are straight. As a ladies’ man, we are supposed to believe that Chuck is some hot firefighter who has no trouble bringing home the entire staff of Hooters as well as a female doctor he first crudely insults. Larry is a widower who still keeps his late wife’s wardrobe in the closet; he has let no one sleep on her side of the bed in the three years since she’s been gone.
Chuck is the character who spends most of the time making fun of gays. But when the tables are turned on him, he’s also their loudest defender.
I’ve never been a big Adam Sandler fan, and usually think his movies are best suited for a DVD rental or to be seen on cable (aside from The Wedding Singer and Happy Gilmore). If you’re not already a fan of Sandler’s, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry probably won’t make you one.
Kevin James (Hitch and TV’s The King of Queens) is funny yet sort of forgettable. Sandler and James do act well together. Sandler seems to have more chemistry with James than with Jessica Biel, whom his character is supposed to have a big crush on.
I can’t say that there aren’t a fair amount of laughs in the movie. The first fart joke comes about five minutes into the movie as the firefighters are rescuing an overweight man from a burning house. I found Larry’s kids to be very funny, even if they further promoted stereotypes (the daughter is a tomboy and the son likes to sing and dance). Aside from Schneider’s Asian minister, the wedding scene had a few laughs and some suspense. Will they or won’t they kiss to seal the deal?
Supporting roles from Ving Rhames (very funny) and Dan Aykroyd (moderately funny) add a bit of humor to the movie.
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry literally plays both sides of the fence, wanting to please both the straight and gay people who see the movie. I just don’t think it’s right that after prodding us to laugh at offensive jokes, and promoting stereotypes for an hour and a half, the movie tells us it’s not right to make fun of those who are different. ••
Movie Grade: C