This movie surprised me. In one scene someone quotes, “Ye of little faith” and someone else wants to know who originally said that, was it Shakespeare? “No, Jesus”, replies Jack, one twin played by Adam Sandler. He also plays Jill, Jack’s sister. In another surprising scene, an employee comments to Jack, who is Jewish, that a certain person didn’t “look” Jewish. Jack says he doesn’t appreciate that comment. When the same character says to not worry about it, that he is actually an atheist, Jack says, “That’s two for two, buddy”, meaning he didn’t like that either. How often do these examples happen in the movies lately?
Actually, based on the previews, I thought the movie was going to fall flat and not be funny. Don’t get me wrong, it does have some jokes that do not work, but it is actually funnier than I thought it would be. And it features a nice theme, that despite her shortcomings and quirks, Jack learns his sister Jill has a heart of gold and he appreciates it after she spends several weeks with him, something he never wanted to have happen in the first place. One funny scene takes place when Jack and Jill are with his son at the movies. They both react in exactly the same manner, the way they laugh and eat popcorn and it is rather humorous, especially since Jack just finished telling his son they act nothing alike.
In fact, if not for the film being a bit too strong with a few sexual comments and themes, the film would have been awarded our Dove “Family-Approved” Seal. But it is a bit too strong for us to award our Dove Seal to it and feel good about it. Too bad it just misses because it is nice to see some of the other positive elements in the movie.
