Movie Review: 50 First Dates (2004) – A Surprisingly Sweet Sandler Romance with a Twist

Movie Review: 50 First Dates (2004) – A Surprisingly Sweet Sandler Romance with a Twist 

Tags 50 First Dates review, Adam Sandler movies, Drew Barrymore, romantic comedies, memory loss romance, Hawaii films, 2000s rom-coms, Peter Segal, best rom-coms, comedy movie reviews, GuessTheGross, Valentine’s Day movies 

 Overview

50 First Dates is a 2004 romantic comedy directed by Peter Segal. It stars Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore in a love story set in Hawaii, where a woman’s rare memory condition forces her suitor to win her heart anew each day.

Plot Summary

Henry Roth (Adam Sandler) is a carefree veterinarian living in Hawaii who enjoys casual flings with tourists—until he meets Lucy Whitmore (Drew Barrymore), a charming local woman with a unique condition. After a car accident, Lucy suffers from short-term memory loss and relives the same day every morning. Despite the challenge, Henry falls for her and commits to making her fall in love with him again and again. Along the way, he navigates her protective family, oddball friends, and his own immaturity in a quest for lasting love.

What Works

• Performance: Drew Barrymore brings sweetness and emotional complexity to Lucy, grounding the outlandish premise. Sandler tones down his usual goofiness to deliver a surprisingly likable romantic lead.
• Direction: Peter Segal smartly balances romance and comedy, keeping the tone light while letting the emotional beats shine through.
• Tension or Themes: The film explores themes of memory, commitment, and daily devotion with a surprisingly sincere touch, especially for a Sandler vehicle.

What Doesn’t Work

• The subplots—particularly those involving Sean Astin and Rob Schneider—veer into juvenile territory and feel disconnected from the emotional heart of the story.
• Some humor falls flat, relying on stereotypes and bodily gags that clash with the film’s more heartfelt core.

Final Thoughts

50 First Dates is one of Adam Sandler’s most balanced romantic comedies, blending his trademark silliness with genuine sweetness. While not without its flaws, the chemistry between Sandler and Barrymore elevates the film, making it a memorable Valentine’s Day treat or anytime date-night watch.

Rating

⭐ Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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What did you think of 50 First Dates? Leave a comment below or share your favorite moment from the film!

If you enjoyed this review, check out my takes on other romantic comedies here.

Movie Review: 40 Days and 40 Nights (2002) – A Celibacy Challenge Rom-Com That Falls Short

Movie Review: 40 Days and 40 Nights (2002) – A Celibacy Challenge Rom-Com That Falls Short 

Tags 40 Days and 40 Nights review, Josh Hartnett, romantic comedy, Shannyn Sossamon, 2000s movies, Michael Lehmann, sex comedies, movie reviews, celibacy in movies, raunchy comedies 

  

 Overview

40 Days and 40 Nights is a 2002 romantic comedy directed by Michael Lehmann. It stars Josh Hartnett, Shannyn Sossamon, and Vinessa Shaw, and centers on a young man who takes a vow of celibacy for Lent — only to meet the perfect girl the moment he swears off sex.

Plot Summary

Matt (Josh Hartnett) is a San Francisco web designer heartbroken from a recent breakup. Tired of meaningless hookups, he decides to give up sex — and all forms of intimacy — for 40 days during Lent. Naturally, right as he embarks on this personal detox, he meets Erica (Shannyn Sossamon), a witty and charming woman who might be exactly what he’s been looking for. Complicating matters, Matt's roommate Ryan discovers the vow and turns it into a public spectacle by launching a betting site on whether Matt can last the full 40 days. As temptations escalate and misunderstandings pile up, Matt’s challenge quickly becomes more about emotional honesty than just abstinence.

What Works

• Performance: Josh Hartnett is affable and occasionally funny in the lead, and Shannyn Sossamon brings a low-key charm to a thinly written love interest.
• Direction: Michael Lehmann (known for Heathers) keeps the film briskly paced and visually polished, even if the story struggles to maintain momentum.
• Concept: The inversion of the usual “guy trying to get laid” trope is refreshing in theory, giving the film a unique starting point in the raunch-com genre.

What Doesn’t Work

• The plot relies heavily on contrivances and avoids real emotional stakes, opting instead for sitcom-level misunderstandings.
• Most supporting characters, especially Matt’s roommate, veer into caricature territory, and the film uses gross-out gags as filler rather than real humor.

Final Thoughts

40 Days and 40 Nights is a watchable but forgettable entry in the early 2000s rom-com scene. While it starts with a clever premise, the execution leans too heavily on clichés and easy laughs. Fans of Josh Hartnett or early-2000s nostalgia may find it mildly entertaining, but for most viewers, it’s a middling experience.

Rating

⭐ Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

What did you think of 40 Days and 40 Nights? Leave a comment below or share your favorite (or most cringeworthy) moment from the film!

If you enjoyed this review, check out my takes on other romantic comedies here.

Snow White and the Huntsman Review: Grim Fairy Tale, Gorgeous Visuals, Disappointing Execution

📽️ Official Trailer  

 Overview Film critic Sean Patrick reviews Snow White and the Huntsman, praising its visuals and Chris Hemsworth’s performance, but finding Kristen Stewart’s lead and the overall film underwhelming. 

 Plot Summary This version of Snow White dives deep into a grimmer tone, clearly aiming for epic fantasy territory. Kristen Stewart (Twilight) stars as Snow White, the daughter of a murdered king, imprisoned and later hunted by the queen’s enforcer: Eric the Huntsman, played by Chris Hemsworth—yes, that Chris Hemsworth, better known as Thor. 

 What Works Chris Hemsworth as The Huntsman: Chris Hemsworth brings gravitas and energy to the role. He even serves as a sort of narrator, helping guide the audience through the sometimes convoluted story. His performance is a standout. High Camp and Glamour: Charlize Theron is deliciously over-the-top as the Evil Queen. She brings flair and menace to every scene she’s in. The Production: The production design is stunning—this film looks amazing, with sweeping landscapes, haunting forests, and lavish costumes. 

 What Doesn’t Work Kristen Stewart: Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Kristen Stewart. While I generally like her work, she falls flat here. Her portrayal of Snow White lacks the depth and presence needed for such an iconic character, and her performance drags the film down. Style Over Substance: Snow White and the Huntsman is a classic case of style over substance. Beneath its beautiful exterior, it’s hollow. Great visuals can’t save a weak lead performance or a story that struggles to find emotional resonance. 

 Final Thoughts In the end, Snow White and the Huntsman is a big-budget disappointment. Despite its impressive visuals and a solid supporting performance from Hemsworth, I can’t recommend it. Skip this one and save your movie dollars for something more engaging. 

 ⭐ Rating 2 out of 5 stars 

 🗣️ Join the Conversation What are your thoughts on Snow White and the Huntsman? Did you like Kristen Stewart’s performance? Share your opinions in the comments below! 

 🔗 Explore More If you enjoyed this review, check out my take on the 2025 Snow White Remake from Hollywood and the Indie horror version.

Tags:

#SnowWhiteAndTheHuntsman #MovieReview #KristenStewart #ChrisHemsworth #CharlizeTheron #FairyTaleMovies #GrimmFairyTales #FantasyFilms #FilmCritic #BoxOfficeReview

What Makes a Movie Good or Bad?

I saw the above meme-tweet posted on Tumblr and it kind of blew my mind. It honestly did not occur to me that someone could watch a movie and not know whether the movie was good or bad. How do you not know if you've enjoyed something or not? It really is as simple as, if you enjoyed the movie, the movie is good, to you. If you didn't enjoy the movie, the movie isn't good, to you. It's a completely subjective distinction. I can't tell you if you are going to like a movie or not, I can only recommend or not recommend a movie based on my subjective opinion. 

The only difference between you and a film critic is a willingness to confidently state an opinion and support that opinion with rhetoric. That's it. There are complexities, shades of gray, and other things that separate a professional film critic from an average moviegoer, but it really does just boil down to a willingness that people like me have to state our opinion with confidence, plant a flag on a particular opinion, and withstand the scrutiny of our position. 

I think one of the reasons people don't want to take a stand on whether a movie is good or bad is the idea of having to defend their opinion. Most people have a strong desire to not be considered wrong. There is a deep seated anxiety over the idea that confidently stating an opinion could render someone an outsider. People have a strong desire to belong, a strong desire to relate to others and a good way to go along and get along is to keep your strong opinions to yourself. 

Going along to get along is a default position for many, many people. Being different can bring unwanted attention and having an opinion about something is a quick way of making yourself different from the crowd. Think of it like this, if you have a group of friends that loves Marvel movies, are you willing to say you don't like Marvel movies? Or are you more likely to just nod your head and listen to them talk? Most people, I would argue, prefer that second position. 

Read the full length article at Geeks.media