By Robert Scucci
| Printed 25 seconds in the past
Earlier this week, I noticed that fifty First Dates was streaming on Netflix, and figured I’d give it a go for outdated instances sake. Full disclosure, I actually needed to dunk on this one as a result of I haven’t watched the film since 311’s cowl of The Remedy’s “Love Track” for the soundtrack was making its rounds on MTV2 when the channel was nonetheless taking part in music considerably commonly.
The explanation I needed to dunk on 50 First Dates, you ask? I remembered the premise being type of creepy as a result of Adam Sandler’s Henry Roth (which seems like a serial killer’s title from a present like Prison Minds) mainly tips a girl who might as properly be Leonard Shelby from Memento into loving him, besides she’s not coated with self-drawn, ballpoint jail tattoos to remind her of her reminiscence loss.
Now right here’s the place I take my lumps and admit that I’m within the unsuitable as a result of, like Drew Barrymore’s Lucy Whitmore, my reminiscence of the film has been corrupted over time, and 50 First Dates is definitely healthful as hell.
I Was Unsuitable, So Lengthy, And Thanks For All The Fish
In another context, 50 First Dates wouldn’t work as a result of on its face it’s a narrative about Henry Roth, a womanizing marine veterinarian who runs prepare on feminine vacationers visiting Oahu, Hawaii as a result of he fears dedication. When he occurs upon Lucy at Sue’s (Amy Hill) café, they instantly hit it off, and interact within the type of flirting you’d anticipate to occur over elaborate waffle structure and occasional. Completely smitten with Lucy, Henry is able to lastly decide to the girl of his goals, besides there’s one downside: Lucy was in a automotive accident one yr prior and suffers from anterograde amnesia.
In different phrases, Lucy remembers the occasions in her life that lead as much as her accident, however her new, post-accident recollections get cleaned each night time when she falls asleep.
Determined to win Lucy over each day, Henry units up elaborate situations that seem like probability encounters along with her so he might get her consideration and attempt to win her affection. From asking her to assist jump-start his automotive to staging a scene to seem like his greatest buddy Ula (Rob Schneider) is assaulting him so she’ll come to his rescue (considered one of funniest scenes in 50 First Dates), Henry manipulates Lucy and takes benefit of her reminiscence loss so he might proceed his one-sided relationship along with her below these less-than-ideal circumstances.
This type of obsession could possibly be seen as problematic in another film as a result of Henry was advised to cease pursuing Lucy, however he continues to take action anyway with little to no regard to how damaging his pursuit could possibly be to her psyche. However for some cause, it really works in 50 First Dates.
50 First Dates Doesn’t Work With out Lucy’s Household
At first, Lucy’s father, Marlin (Blake Clark), and her older, roid-raging brother, Doug (Sean Astin), are protecting of Lucy, and for good cause. Not desirous to shock Lucy with the information that she’s been residing the day of her accident (Marlin’s birthday) on repeat as a result of she will’t type new recollections in 50 First Dates, Marlin and Doug go to excessive lengths to guard her by consuming pineapple cake each day, watching the identical soccer recreation, and ending the night time by viewing M. Night time Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense, which surprises Lucy with its twist ending each time though Marlin and Doug most likely wish to gouge their eyes out each single time as a result of they already know what’s coming.
It was round this time that I had a change of coronary heart about 50 First Dates as a result of all the things comes right down to intention on this rom-com that I could have preemptively been just a little too exhausting on looking back earlier than going into my second viewing.
Positive, it’s tousled that Marlin and Doug deceive Lucy each single day, however they’re doing it for healthful causes that I think anyone would attempt to do if that they had the sources (and 500 copies of the identical newspaper to maintain the ruse going). At first apprehensive towards Henry’s advances, Marlin realizes that Lucy is noticeably happier at any time when Henry is round, and permits him to strive a brand new methodology that’s rather less time consuming as a result of Henry’s proper– someday years later, Lucy will finally discover that everyone’s getting old, and she or he’ll need to confront her reminiscence loss by means of extra sensible means.
Opting to make new video tapes for Lucy each single day in 50 First Dates, Henry is 100% dedicated to getting the sorrow out of the best way very first thing each morning and catching her up with present occasions so they might stay their lives collectively and transfer the connection ahead, which truly has a optimistic impact on her reminiscence.
One Of The Higher Adam Sandler Rom-Coms
I’ve stated previously that my mileage for Adam Sandler varies from movie to movie, however when he’s within the “likeable goofball” mode with out going too over-the-top, he is aware of how one can get the job completed. I can also’t fault the man an excessive amount of for cracking the code within the type of hiring all of his pals to star in films with him at stunning places as a result of so long as it’s thought-about “work” he can do regardless of the hell he needs.
I apologize for going into watching 50 First Dates with the intention of ripping it to shreds. In another context, the entire “any person benefiting from a girl’s reminiscence loss for their very own egocentric achieve” plot would fall flat as a result of it’s primarily stalking any person with a psychological handicap. However because of Lucy’s household and pals, and the honest place that Henry’s advances are coming from, I’ve to confess that I used to be unsuitable, and there’s nothing creepy in any respect about this film.
I’m not saying that you must cease and assist a stranger who has their jumper cables out in the course of the night time as a result of that has the potential to be harmful (and they need to be a practical grownup with a AAA membership, let’s be actual), however you’ll be completely protected streaming 50 First Dates on Netflix within the consolation and privateness of your individual dwelling.
