Movie Review: ‘Blended’

Sometimes, the best way to find love is to do it blind.

In “Blended,” the newest Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore film, romantic comedy veers into the realm of feel-good family flick. Control-freak Lauren (Barrymore) and dim-witted Jim (Sandler) develop a hatred for one another on a terrible blind date but later unintentionally bring their separate families together on a “familymoon” in Africa.

For the third time, Sandler and Barrymore star opposite each other in a romantic comedy, and the duo only gets better with age. This is by far Barrymore’s best comedic performance, as she drops her usual girl-next-door act in favor of a stronger role as an overprotective mother. Her performance brings a zany freshness to the couple’s chemistry.

Sandler, on the other hand, shows the audience a softer side. He draws from a more heartfelt place as his character raises three daughters while grieving the death of his wife. In “Blended,” his performance is reminiscent of his character in the 2006 family film “Click,” and his trademark sense of humor is ever-present.

The film capitalizes on the shared history of Sandler and Barrymore by hiding a number of salutes from past films. Ten-Second Tom (Allen Corvert) from “50 First Dates” and iconic George (Alexis Arquette) from “The Wedding Singer” make cameo appearances among a dozen Easter eggs hidden throughout the film. These references give the comedy both context and depth while keeping the jokes fresh rather than cliché.

The humor in this film was fast, hard-hitting and endless. The jokes were expertly dispersed so that one-liners built off of one another to create layers of comedy that both entertain and develop the characters and plot. While Barrymore and Sandler deliver the bulk of the laughs, the large cast of supporting and minor characters chime in for nearly every situation, adding a nonstop stream of humor.

While “Blended” could easily land among the favorite romantic comedy classics, the touching family aspect makes it stand out from its Barrymore and Sandler predecessors. The resort in the film caters to “blended families,” and a number of true and potent issues that real families face arise.

Jim’s and Lauren’s children go through a number of stages, ranging from rejection to anger to acceptance, as they get to know one another. The film also explores more serious topics such as moving on, growing up and good parenting. However, jokes are expertly woven throughout to keep the film from getting too heavy.

The imagery in the film is surprisingly impressive. Wide shots of African landscapes and wildlife are prevalent throughout and serve as good transitions between scenes. The camera never misses a beat in comedic timing as it perfectly hones in on characters delivering one-liners.

The only thing that could count against “Blended” is its predictability in the overarching plot. As far as romantic comedies go, however, this isn’t completely unexpected. The traditional story of hate-to-love is an archetype in the genre, but the comedy and characters keep this story interesting despite the lack of intrigue.

This film is a completely fresh take on a much-loved genre. The nostalgia rises and falls throughout the film as it integrates the new jokes with the old. The humor is spot-on, and the film has a surprising number of honest and tender moments. It’d be a great movie for a night out with the girls, going out with the family or maybe even a blind date. Whatever the occasion, laughter is sure to ensue.