Comic relief during the "dead zone."By John DeSando, WCBE's "It's Movie Time," "Cinema Classics," and "On the Marquee"
Although Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler are not the caliber of Rosalind Russell and Cary Grant, they are a well-matched comedic couple in Just Go with It. When they're not engaged in a typical rom-com moment that makes them a loving couple (sorry about the spoiler, but you knew it anyway), they are scrappy and witty, making me almost believe they don't love each other.
This story of plastic surgeon Danny (Sandler) having his assistant, Katherine (Aniston), act as his divorcing wife so he can snag 23-year-old-hottie Palmer (Brooklyn Decker) is boilerplate rom-com, but not bad at that. The slapstick and repartee are sometimes above average, and Sandler with Katherine's two children is right at home at what he does best: kind-hearted and funny and always ready to let the child actors upstage him.
For instance, Bailee Madison as Katherine's daughter, Maggie, steals scenes with her fake Brit accent and overall chutzpah emanating from her strong personality first evident in Disney's Bridge to Terabithia. Sandler is brilliant with her, playing off her aggressiveness with his own low-key but smart responses. He brings out the best in everyone every time he relinquishes control of the scene.
It's a good film as well that lets Nicole Kidman goof a little as Katherine's college rival; the two facing off in a Hawaiian hip-swaying contest is an amusing display of talent and toning, not bad at all for ladies who are getting as long in the tooth as Sandler. Not all the secondary characters are as fun: Comic relief from Nick Swardson as silly buddy Eddie is tediously forced.
The comedy has all the requirements of the genre, all the clich?s, and all the telegraphed twists. However, Just Go with It is a pleasant surprise in this movie dead zone before the Oscar winner announcements.
John DeSando co-hosts WCBE 90.5's It's Movie Time, Cinema Classics, and On the Marquee, which can be heard streaming at http://publicbroadcasting.net/wcbe/ppr/index.shtml and on demand at http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wcbe/arts.artsmain Contact him at JDeSando@Columbus.RR.com