Just Go With It

A romcom with little rom and even less com, Just Go With It returns Adam Sandler to his fascination with kids, poop and mammary glands. Oh joy! Sandler house director Dennis Dugan (Grownups, Big Daddy, the actually funny Happy Gilmore) indulges the boss’ obsessions as the sound of jokes dying fills the multiplex. In this strained update on Cactus Flower, the 1969 comedy that won Goldie Hawn an Oscar, Sandler plays Dr. Danny, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon who falls for Palmer, a knockout young teacher (uber-model Brooklyn Decker in the Hawn role), but needs to pretend he’s married to hook her. Don’t ask.

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So Dr. Danny enlists his nurse, Katherine, a frump who’s hiding the body of Jennifer Aniston under those whites. We know this because she’s played by Jennifer Aniston. Are you believing any of this? It get worse, which is a shame since Sandler and Aniston show a nice, unforced chemistry. If only they didn’t have to spout dialogue that makes them sound mentally challenged. Divorced Katherine brings in her two kids (cuties Bailee Madison and Griffin Gluck) to help convince Palmer that at least once Danny made a good husband and father. I’m getting a headache just remembering this swill.

Peter Travers reviews Just Go With It in his weekly video series, “At the Movies With Peter Travers.”

Somehow Nicole Kidman is dragged into this mess as Devlin, an old school rival of Katherine’s. When they’re not cat fighting they compete in a hula contest when the whole cast goes on vacation in Hawaii. Paradise for them, I’m sure. Hell for us. Katherine hates Devlin so much she tells her son to name every poop he makes a Devlin. Using the film’s humor yardstick, Just Go With It is a definite piece of Devlin. Don’t even think of going with it. It’s the perfect Valentine’s date night movie, but only with someone you hate.

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