FilmReviews by hanuman:Sandler's trusty guffaw formula

Published on September 6, 2007

That episode probably inspired the script of "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry", with James and Adam Sandler playing two straight fire-fighters who pretend to be a gay couple for the extra welfare benefits.

Sounds funny, but the film is taking a big risk in offending both gay and straight crowds if the jokes are taken the wrong way.

Fortunately, the good news is "Chuck & Larry" is much better than "Hitch", which was so tooth-grindingly "chick-flick" that many viewers were left wishing they'd booked a couple of hours of root-canal treatment instead.

"Chuck & Larry" at least makes you laugh a few times, and the chemistry between Sandler and James is actually much better than you might expect.

The laughs come from the kind of  raunchy humour that has made Sandler one of the richest stars in the world.

He can now afford to do what he wants with who he wants, after building a giant movie-making empire on the back of super-hits like "Billy Madison", "Happy Gilmore" and "The Waterboy".

"Spanglish", "50 First Dates" and "The Wedding Singer" proved he could make the romantic crossover effortlessly.

But "Chuck & Larry" suggests Sandler is getting bored with formulaic movies and needs to take a few risks with something different. What saves the picture is its cast of solid back-up players, such as Dan Ayckroyd, Steve Buscemi and Ving Rhames.

The film is being so heavily promoted on TV that some of the best moments have already been given away. But at least it means that if you don't care for the material, you can skip it.

After all, another Sandler vehicle, or one with his trusted sidekick Rob Schneider, should be out shortly. But because Sandler is such a big draw in Bangkok, expect "Chuck & Larry" to play for a while here, regardless of the unkind reviews it has been getting.