Just Go With It (2011)

Screenplay by I.A.L. Diamond and Allen Loeb and Timothy Dowling
Directed by Dennis Dugan

An apt title since Sandler and company seemingly looked at the script and said "Let's just go with it". Thus, it was retitled, from the ultimately more sophisticated Cactus Flower. Even Pretend Wife would have been better (a real working title, by the way). However, as seems the norm with Sandler lately, he doesn't even try, doesn't even bother with any creative aspects, he merely furthers the wannabe playboy quasi-Sandler. I don't know if he sees himself this way, or wants to see himself this way, which is why he continually does these types of movies, but it's really trite at this point. At least I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry had Kevin James as a new device for Sandler.

Lighter than light, this is a film for the modern family to watch together, it has enough crude humor for the 10-28 year old boy crowd, eye candy for the 10-103 male crowd, and enough syrupy corniness to drown anyone. Somehow, despite all odds, Sandler comes off likeable (which the character has no right to) and Jennifer Aniston actually shines comedically, as his tomboyish sidekick to his playboy plastic surgeon.

Of course if you've seen the trailer you can plot the course of the entire film, which might have always been the case with most of Sandler's films, but many of them were at least enjoyable. Here, too often, I was wondering aloud where the jokes were, if this was not a comedy film. Sadly, it seems they don't even need jokes anymore, people will pay to see Sandler do anything, which was the joke of a depreciating character in Funny People apparently when you're as rich as Sandler, it doesn't even matter if you're laughing at yourself.

Dennis Dougan is still one of the finest comedy directors today, proving this by making consistently funny (or at least tolerable) comedies from ridiculously corny scripts the past few years. Despite this fact, he's never lost his timing, or the ability to make a joke work no matter how telegraphed, he really does know comedy. Which begs the question, why would he continue making all of these sub-par scripts? I guess it's one of those Hollywood mysteries, which isn't really a mystery because it's all about money.

Jennifer Aniston finally proves her appeal to me, she can be a funny, candid personality when her character isn't a cold, paranoid lunatic, which is what she seems to play most often. Who knew it was just acting? Of course it's Dougan so you'll see plenty of funny cameos, and Nick Swardson just goes completely into left field with his character (as his personality seemingly pushes him to) but he often has the best laugh out loud moments of the film.

Don't get me wrong, Just Go With It is a funny film. It has some decent laughs, and depending how well you can turn your brain off, some people may even enjoy the brain-dead story that's been told a thousand times before. However, no one will be tricked. Anyone walking into the theater after seeing the poster knows exactly what to expect, and I suppose that's why they keep making so much money. Dougan and Sandler know exactly what audiences want to see, and they deliver exactly that. Nothing more, nothing less. Never dissatisfied, their fans remain loyal. It just leaves those of us that are fans of Saving Silverman and Happy Gilmore reminisce on the potential that once was.

Everyone else is busy getting ready for the next Adam Sandler film.

7.0/10
Grade: (C-) - For having a few laughs (a requisite to call it a comedy), but with very little effort expended. Passable, but just barely.