50 First Dates
(2004)
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Henry Roth (Adam Sandler) works at a Hawaiian Sea World park as a marine biologist. He enjoys the company of women and spends his time picking up tourists. One of the tourists he befriends is Lucy (Drew Barrymore) and unlike the rest of his flings, who only survive the afternoon, Henry is keen to meet up with her the next day. Unfortunately when the next day arrives, Lucy can't remember ever meeting Henry and he soon discovers that, following an accident, she suffers from short term memory loss. Every day he has to woo her again and again and trust that she falls in love with him every time. |
Only the grumpiest viewer could fail to be charmed by this sweet comedy. Featuring one of Adam Sandler's least goofy performances, it's a simple and undemanding story, with genuine warmth beneath the slapstick. In a plot reminiscent of Groundhog Day, Drew Barrymore plays a car-crash survivor whose short term memory loss means she wakes up every morning with no knowledge of the day before. For laid-back, would-be suitor Sandler this means repeating their first date over and over again, an amusing concept laced with poignancy. While both leads are likeable, benefiting from an easy chemistry established in The Wedding Singer, it's Anger Management director Peter Segal's subtle balance of humour and heart that really lifts the film.