Review of Blended (2014) by Maksim B — 31 Oct 2014

Shallow, formulaic and nearly racially offending, Blended is an inappropriate Adam Sandler delivery which somehow is packed with a decent sentimentality, passable romance and family friendly-fare. Sporadically funny and downgrading the audience to nothing but couch-potatoes, this movie could be definitely simply as one of the many nearly unwatchable Adam Sandler comedies.

Lauren (Drew Barrymore) is a single mother of two boys who goes on a blind date with Jim (Adam Sandler), a widowed father of three girls. After everything goes totally wrong and both promise never to do such a mistake again and to go on a blind date, fate brings Lauren and Jim together with their kids on a trip to South Africa. That is where the main part of the story develops and director Frank Coraci makes sure that the audience never forgets that the story takes place there. With jokes and stereotyping of South Africans in a way which many would find completely unacceptable, Frank Coraci tries to amuse the audience. This, however, results in a serious discontent (unless you are an outspoken racist).

Apart from this biggest issue, the story is as it could be expected pretty formulaic and the jokes are part of the typical Adam Sandler's repertoire. What comes as a real surprise and actually saves the movie from becoming an absolutely unwatchable delivery, is the on-screen chemistry between Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. I could hardly recollect any movie in which Sandler has better chemistry with a leading actress. Even though this is not enough to justify spending money on watching Blended, this chemistry gives the movie a certain level of romantic charm.

In conclusion, Blended is nothing more and nothing less than an average Adam Sandler comedy. By the common standards for Sandler, this should be considered as a poor movie by the audience. It is worth wasting your time on flight or on a long train trip where you want to see something for the sake of killing 91 minutes.