On the Big Board |
| Position |
Staff |
In Brief |
| 101/214 |
Max Braden |
Other than Biel's underwear scene there's not much here worth watching. |
“Sorry, Mr. Burns, but I don't go in for these backdoor shenanigans. Sure, I'm flattered, maybe even a little curious, but the answer is no!”
Homer Simpson said it best with these words of wisdom. Now, box office powerhouse Adam Sandler and funny fat man Kevin James are about to explore the interpersonal dynamics of that special type of marriage that Americans keep voting to suppress – the one between two men. Sandler portrays Chuck Ford, a successful and respected fireman whose usage of a remote control allows him to…wait, that was his last movie. This time, he befriends fellow fireman Larry Allensworth, a dedicated family man and recent widower. Well, that’s not quite accurate. The two don’t know each other very well until Larry saves Chuck from a nasty encounter with a backdraft.
Indebted to his co-worker, Chuck promises that if there is anything he can ever do for Larry, all his new friend needs to do is ask. At this point, Larry does ask. Specifically, he asks for Chuck’s hand in marriage. Yes, this is a strange thing for a straight man to do. And yes, Larry – as well as Chuck – is straight. The catch is that Larry’s recently deceased wife was the one who had health insurance for the family. With her death, Larry may no longer claim his own children as the beneficiaries of his life insurance policy. That is, he cannot do so unless he also claims someone as a domestic partner. Larry sees Chuck as the method through which he may best protect his children from future disaster. Chuck sees Larry as a man proposing to him, and since he doesn’t subscribe to Prison Bride Magazine, the idea makes him uncomfortable.
Eventually, Chuck relents and the firemen have what is presumably the first guy/guy marriage in the station’s history. The groom and groom (?) do not see their problems end there, though. An employee of the city government becomes aware of their domestic partnership, and an investigation ensues. As the entire city becomes aware of their unique relationship, Chuck and Larry must keep up their act in public in order to guarantee that Larry’s children are covered in case of disaster. Given Larry’s turbulent profession, this is an imperative for all involved.
As far as buddy comedy combinations of talent and premise go, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry is as pedigreed as they get. James is just finishing up his nine season run as The King of Queens. He was also the third headliner in Hitch, one of the most successful romantic comedies of all time. That project earned $177.6 million. Sandler’s track record is even more impressive. The comedian has starred in six different movies that have earned $100 million or more including three that have surpassed the $150 million mark. The combination of these two popular comics in a headline-grabbing storyline should prove to be one of the most successful projects on the summer schedule. (David Mumpower/BOP)
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