THE WEEK OF (2018)

Directed By: Robert Smeigel 
Written By: Robert Smeigel & Adam Sandler 
Cinematography By: Federico Cesca 
Editor: Tom Costain 


Cast: Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Steve Buscemi, Rachel Dratch, Jackie Sandler, Jared Sandler, Allison Strong, Roland Buck III, Chuck Nice, Alex Song, Patricia Belcher, Rob Morgan, Scott Cohen, Garry Pastore, Jorge Luna 


Two fathers with opposing personalities come together to celebrate the wedding of their children. They are forced to spend the longest week of their lives together, and the big day cannot come soon enough.

The film’s first act is horrible but lays the foundation for the rest of the film that is more annoying than entertaining unfortunately. Though like random family meme era and actors in the film it is also randomly entertaining and funny in parts. Which is a relief as after the first 30 minutes you might be inspired to turn the film off. You wouldn’t be shamed for doing so as you are not missing anything great.

What is greatly disappointing is that while this film seems to go more back to Sandler’s New York comedy roots it’s also written by him and noted comedy writer and collaborator Robert Smeigel who also directed the film.

It also reunited him with Chris Rock. Where the advertisements make it seem like they will be the big stars of the film and get equal screen time. This is more Sandler’s movie with Chris Rock more In A supporting role and the film offers no real strengths of their comedy on display. Instead it leaves them more to play characters less their comedic personeas. Which should be congratulated but this story might have benefitted more from that. As in fact Adam Sandler seems to more play a caricature. Rock even feels more like a Guest star more or less. Like some kind of guest on this week's episode on a skit show.

The reason they might downplay their characters is to give more room for the supporting cast of actors and heighten the situations as recurring problems. Which does work for the film, it if you remember early Adam Sandler it can work with both.

Though unfortunately this leaves little room for the couple who play their kids in The film. They literally have nothing to do but be reminders of why all of this is happening and whose approval and happiness is sought. They are the damsel in Distress who are mainly sidelined. We learn nothing about them really how they met. How in love they are. They more or less look just thrown together. Which goes for the film as well as it just seems like some loose skits more thrown together into a story.

The film looks low budget and more or less seems rooted in Jewish stereotypes. It also again gives us Sandler in drag for a scene.

For Once this is not a film he made just for the vacation location. It seems like he is putting in more effort this time. Though he still has to play the more heroic of the characters. This still feels like a film where he and rock are having more fun working together and seems like it was more fun behind the scenes rather than what appears on screen.

I will give the film credit. It did make me laugh a few times more out of how silly and stupid it was. The film has the right ingredients but aren’t used correctly or even inventively. As we have seen this scenario quite a few times on screen already and here was a chance to do it more comedically and the film drops the ball by focusing on one character’s attempts to do it all with little to no help.

The film seemed more like it was going for an interracial THE IN-LAWS. Instead we get a film where Adam Sandler tries to be comedic and dramatic at times. He seems to more have roped in Chris Rock to get more noticed and an audience. As this is the type of film where if it was just him and no one with a big name attached this film would have never been noticed and gone down quick. Though it is partially a breath of fresh air to have a film that is a miniature culture clash and interracial relationship and there not be too much talk or humor about race and race relations. Amongst other details. The material should just be better rather then it seems dragging itself along to the next set piece or misadventure. That tries to seem wild but never quite seems to squeeze enough humor or jokes out of the situation. So that if anything it doesn’t feel worldly it feels more like a neighborhood type of film. Which seems to celebrate the frustrations but also the rewards of having family.

One gets that this film is more about entertainment and trying to appeal to all audiences, but it still feels more like while it tries to be middle class. It feels like it is speaking down to it’s audience as it doesn’t fully respect them and thinks it can get away with elbowing them in the ribs for more chuckle worthy jokes that seem off center.

I would only recommend this film more for purists and completeists of the movies of Adam Sandler.

Grade: D+