Blended

This review may contain spoilers.

I am shocked and surprised that Adam Sandler was in a film worth watching, by which I mean it wasn't a great film but an enjoyable one. I would give Blended a 6.5/10.

Blended was a very well paced film, it had the right amount of opening tension and conflict that culminated into a suspenseful final half hour with a really satisfying end. This film had some brilliant music, some of which were great enjoyable songs that broke the fourth wall while others conveyed brilliant montages. The film itself has some great emotional subplot and a charming story overall about the importance of family and love.

Adam Sandler, who played Jim, was surprisingly good within this film; I wouldn't chalk this down to some big acting redemption though, more likely it's just he got the better subplot of the two leads. Terry Crews, who plays Nickens, is really enjoyable and fun onscreen; it's made even better by his running gag of breaking the fourth wall through song. Wendi McLendon-Coven, who played Jen, was hilarious as this bitter middle aged woman who called things as she saw them and was vastly politically incorrect. Bella Thorne, who played Hilary, did a great job of showing a hormonal teenage girl going through puberty with a single dad; it was nice to get that element of depth to the character. Alyvia Alyn Lind, who played Lou, was just crazy and funny onscreen but also adorable, she was truly the heart of the film. Shaquille O'Neal, who played Doug, was an awesome cameo and quite clearly Sandler and Shaq have great onscreen chemistry.

It was Emma Fuhrmann, who played Espn, that really dominated this film quite subtly. She had to portray a child who imagined she could see her dead mother as a coping mechanism, something Fuhrmann achieved remarkably. Near the end of the film she gives up her state of imagination around her mother in a very heartfelt scene between Sandler and herself.

This film still managed to achieve some harrowing lowbrow humour that really reminded you that this was a Sandler/Barrymore film. The cinematography in this film was also quite visually basic and unappealling while the editing was blocky and very standard.

Drew Barrymore, who played Lauren, delivered a very over the top performance that was regrettable to see. Kevin Nealon and Jessica Lowe, who played Eddy and Ginger respectively, were a very over the top couple who just weren't believable. Braxton Beckham, who played Brendan, was a creepy kid that just never really got redeemed during the film and who you were always rather repulsed by. Joel McHale, who played Mark, was able to match Barrymore for over the top performance, only this guy was an over the top sleaze. Abdoulaye NGom, who played Mfana, gave a performance that was riddled with racial stereotypes and forced humour. Kyle Red Silverstein, who played Tyler, had next to no character to him and just seemed to expel energy onscreen. Zak Henri, who played Jake, was one of the most unimpressive and easiest setups for a love interest in a film.