Jack and Jill
2011
Comedy
Rated: PG
Running Time: 91 minutes
Starring: Adam Sandler,
Katie Holmes, Al Pacino,
Directed By: Dennis Dugan
Rating: 0 out of 10
Outline
A guy must choose between
his struggling career and the happiness of his annoying twin sister.
Review
To start, this is one of
the worst movies of all time. I am not saying this for effect, but it truly is.
Sandler should have to monetarily compensate everyone’s movie ticket, rental, and
DVD purchase of this film and offer an apology in the process. Adam Sandler has
not made a good film in a really long time. Scratch that, Adam Sandler has not
made an average film in a really long time. I defended him after films like You
Don’t Mess with the Zohan and That’s My Boy, but I can do so no longer. When
his friends are making better stuff (Grandma’s Boy, Bucky Larson) it is time to
self reflect Mr. Sandler. Jack and Jill is the story of identical twins. Jack
and his family have to entertain his annoying twin sister Jill for
Thanksgiving. Jack’s nightmares are realized when Jill decides to stay on for
longer than planned.
This film is thoroughly
perplexing in its awfulness. Why Sandler even bothered with the playing two characters
bit is beyond explanation. Playing multiple characters is almost impossible to
do well in film. If there are any actors out there reading this review I have a
tip for you. If you are ever forced to play multiple roles, just watch this and
do the opposite. The film starts off and we are introduced to Jack as he goes
about his everyday life. He has a loving family and he is a successful advertising
executive. His life is about to be thrown for a loop though on both fronts. On
the job front, his company is on the verge of losing their biggest client in Duncan
Donuts. On the family front, he is about to entertain his obnoxious sister to
the detriment of his family’s happiness. After a tepid beginning to the movie
it quickly spirals out of control in all areas. Jack must procure Al Pacino
(the actor) to star in his Duncan Donuts commercial while also entertaining
Jill. This is not easy to do, but to complicate matters Al Pacino falls head over heels in love with Jill. So the story is blah but the love angle is
deplorable and here’s why. Jill is a greasy, obnoxious, whiny, and any other
negative adjective you can think of type of woman. She leaves gross sweat stains
on the bed when she sleeps and kills small horses by sitting on them. She also
can lift more weight than Brock Lesnar and play soccer like Lionel Messi for
some reason. The film's story is noticeably stale because there is not a single
laugh to be had.
Jack and Jill are played
by the once funny Adam Sandler. He is vanilla as Jack, but words cannot
describe how painful this film is because of his performance as Jill. I ask you
honestly, is there a worse character in cinematic history then this? I would
have rather watched Jar Jar Binks do stand up then sit through this film again. Her
perpetual shrieking voice and childlike mannerisms are so grating that I almost had
to turn this film off. Al Pacino playing himself in this, can look back on his
performance as a paycheck and nothing more. His weird love interest in a woman (Jill)
that looks like she could give a warthog dry heaves, (Hells yeah I just quoted Al Bundy) might
be his lowest moment of his career. Pacino plays a character that makes Gary
Busey seem normal in comparison. He seems out of place in this film and that is
because he is out of place in this film. All of Sandler’s friends show up in
this but I already have forgotten their oddball characters.
So the only thing positive
about this film is when Jill is not on screen. It doesn’t make this film any
better, but it is a relief from her migraine inducing performance. Jack is
forced to make some tough choices in this with regards to his family and professional
life. He needs to decide if landing Pacino for the commercial is worth his sister’s
unhappiness. As he struggles to find the answers he gets estranged from his
family in the process. They all seem to think Jill is charming and cannot see
why Jack is so mean to her. It is an angle that has been used a thousand times
before but in this it is just sickening. No one would ever like Jill, so why
are there so many people in this who find her nice is beyond me. I will stop
talking, but if you are going to watch this then be prepared for Al Pacino
sexually assaulting Jill, Pepe Le Pew style. Be prepared for adults speaking in
a secret language which is mostly gibberish. Be prepared for Sandler to recycle
fart and poop jokes. Lastly, be prepared for a movie that is so shocking in its
ineptitude, that it somehow ruins the memory of Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore.
Director Dennis Dugan has
to stop making movies or at least stop making movies with Adam Sandler. Grown
Ups, Just Go With It, The Bench Warmers, and now this have ruined my faith in
Sandler comedies. It is as if you can see the actors strolling from scene to
scene, hating themselves for needing the money this badly. Truth be told, no director
could have made this a good movie but it is little excuse. The films lack of
energy and pace can be attributed to Dugan and he needs to take a step back
from comedy for a while. Truly this a terribly put together film.
I cannot recommend this
film and I am a little dumber for having watched it. I award it no points and
may god have mercy on my soul.
T Factor + None
T Factor – None.
If you liked this film reel recommendations: The Benchwarmers,
The Nutty Professor.