ded Jack and Jill: A Comedy of Errors (and Sandlers)
When a highly irritating advertising executive (played by Adam Sandler) is visited by his even more irritating twin sister (also played by Adam Sandler), chaos ensues. To minimize the damage, the “hospitable” brother decides he needs to find her a man, and fast.
This film marks the eighth collaboration between Sandler and director Dennis Dugan.
Adam Sandler, with his steadfast partner Dennis Dugan, has been steadily approaching the comedic territory once dominated by Eddie Murphy. It seems the final step in this evolution involves Sandler playing a boorish, masculine woman, perhaps with basketballs stuffed in her bra. One can only imagine what’s next: roles as flatulent old women, gassy aliens, or even entire families suffering from obesity and, consequently, excessive flatulence.
The film holds a staggering 3% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Sandler vs. Sandler: A Battle for Screen Time
Beyond the central conflict of Sandler versus Sandler (a particular highlight being the scene where Sandler-the-man transforms into Sandler-the-woman), viewers are treated to a “classic” comedic arsenal of crude jokes and public scratching of private parts. A homeless person crashes a family dinner, a strange child glues animals to his back, and every important conversation inevitably takes place in a bathroom.
Saving Graces? Not Quite.
Theoretically, “Jack and Jill” could have been salvaged by the presence of Johnny Depp and Al Pacino. However, Depp wisely retreated after a brief cameo, while Pacino, for some inexplicable reason, decided to so thoroughly humiliate his former greatness that his fans are left cringing in embarrassment. The feeling of secondhand embarrassment for the aging gangster film veteran may be the most lasting impression from watching “Jack and Jill.” Wouldn’t it have been easier to call Todd Phillips and beg for a cameo alongside Mike Tyson in another “Hangover” movie?