CADDYSHACK vs HAPPY GILMORE, Golf is funny Options

[fatseff1234]

Let's have a bit less of the anti-Sandler snobbery. To dislike Sandler is to dislike being entertained.

I, for once, happen to agree with you here. More of the Sandler appreciation please

[ronlogan1977]

I`m on the other side of the Adam Sandler fence i`m afraid. Happy Gilmore aside I just don`t like his films. I`m not so adept at film criticism per se so i`ll post someone elses review of the Wedding Singer below, at the risk of being called a copycat snob or summat bad. It sort of comes close to explaining my own personal antipathy to the films of Adam Sandler.

I've met a lot of people, and these are people who appear to have fully functioning nervous systems, who like this movie. 58% of the critics on rottentomatoes.com gave the film a favorable review. Granted, these are mostly "I have a movie site too" critics, but I'm sure the same bunch panned Dude Where's My Car and liked The 25th Hour. I can't understand it at all. Even if you don't share my antipathy for weddings, this is obviously a very bad movie.

First off, The Wedding Singer isn't funny. "But humor is subjective!" No. This movie is not funny! It basically has one joke that was already very worn by the time the film was released. Here's the joke: fashions during the 80's were different from today's fashions! Tee-hee! People used to like Michael Jackson and wear zipper jackets! Flock of Seagulls had funny hair! People in the 80's had formal wear in the styles of the 80's! The implication being that today, what with Blink-182 and reality TV, we're much more sophisticated.

OK, jokes based on anachronisms can work. Of course they can. I probably laughed at the first two or three Gary Coleman and "CHiPS" references I heard. But millions of 80's pop culture references down the line (the same references over and over) the whole "remember the 80's?" thing just isn't funny and the same was true in 1998, when this film was released. These are the kinds of jokes told to audiences who can't think. They already know the setup and the punch line before the joke comes and prefer it that way, because they usually can't understand new jokes. They've heard the old joke before and the real reason they are laughing is because the recognize the joke and know it is something to laugh at. .

The stupid, sentimental crap that makes up the rest of this movie is as bad as the humor. Sandler's character is too willfully pathetic to actually be sympathetic. Fuck all the life lesson stuff about being true to who you are rather than chasing shallow success to win girls. Why do you think men have been chasing shallow success since the dawn of time? Because it's a foolproof way to attract women. A huge portion of the female population reasons like so, "oooohhhh, he's a rock star, a quarterback, a millionaire, he dries a Ferarri. I think I'll let him handcuff me to a public toilet, sodomize me and leave me there!" When Drew Barrymore really marries a guy who lives in his parents' basement and counts his income in meatballs, I'll be ready to turn to the teachings of Sandler movies. Till then, I'll continue to wince whenever this film comes up. Truly one of the worst studio films I've ever seen

The one thing I did notice was that I think Drew Barrymore actually DID marry some loser who lived in a basement once.

This post has been edited by ronlogan1977: Jan 31 2006, 11:38 PM

[whitey]

After the critical and commercial sucess of Earl, do you think Jason Lee might finally be bankable enough for the studio to let him play Fletch?

I'd prefer Ryan Reynolds. His schtick is closer to Chevy's (not necessarily a good thing, granted) and he really needs a good vehicle to strecth his comedy chops.

[Zoe]

I'd prefer Ryan Reynolds. His schtick is closer to Chevy's (not necessarily a good thing, granted) and he really needs a good vehicle to strecth his comedy chops.

Now a few years ago I would have violently disagreed with you here, but in his past few films Reynold has really proved his comic chops for me.

Even in the (boring) 'Amityville Horror' remake Reynolds displayed a very impressive comic touch, and he lifted 'Blade Trinity' from a cynical cash in to a sublime piece of tongue in cheek.

He has a very Chase quality to him, but I would still like to see Lee cast in the role. Purely because I'd like to see Jason be given a cinematic comic lead... and because I fancy the absolute pants off him.

That said no one looks as good as Reynolds with his shirt off, so I don't know what to think.

[whitey]

I knew you'd have trouble with that.

[Zoe]

Well thanks for that then.

I do enjoy arguing internally with myself.

[ronlogan1977]

I`d stick with Jason Lee for Fletch. He`s already proved how good he is at playing assorted southern hicks and bums which tends to be a particular fave of Fletchs cunning disguises.

[spacegurl]

It's a tough choice: both have their positives. Gilmore is a little more obvious comedy-wise but it has consistency on it's side, while there are some moments in Caddyshack that really don't match up to it's better, funnier parts. But then Caddyshack has Chase and Murray (though not enough).

For its watchability factor, Gilmore gets it. Besides it's hard for anything to beat Christopher McDonald running in slow motion clinging so vehemently to that gold blazer.

[dabariocca]

Difficult but again (as with ZULU VS BRAVEHEART) I have mention the time scale. Gilmore is funny but in 20 years time it may seem as dated as Caddy shack. The overall frat esque tits and pranks comedy of Shack is dated which is a draw back and Dangerfield is by no means the modern Groucho Marks when it comes to one liners. However I voted for Caddy shack for two obvious reasons. One (two trick pony) Adam Sandler does not equal (more tricks than a Harlem hooker)　Bill Murray and Chevy chase. Sandler does dumb nice guy and irate blue collar slob and that's it. Granted he is good at those tricks and since Chase and Murray only have minor parts there are more guffaws in Gilmore.
The point is without Shack there would be no Gilmore. Without Chase and Murray there would be no Sandler. Caddy shack is a ground breaking classic. It's the Rodger Banister of golf comedy. No matter how much it's improved on it will always be the Godfather.

[williambuckroger...]

CADDYSHACK, definitely!

[DOD-MDK]

Caddyshack!!!!!!! Far superior movie than "Happy Gilmore" Ted Knight, Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield, Chevy Chase are comedy gold.