Not bad,but too much "Groundhog Day" alike

Rating: 6/10 (26 June 2004)

SPOILERS HEREIN:
Adam Sandler is supposed to be one of the most popular comediens in America these days and therefore his movies hit the box-office.This was my 3rd Sandler movie and I can't really say that he's brilliant.After watching "Happy Gilmore and "Anger Management" and not liking it,I was a little bit cautious in my choice to watch this film.
But I have to say this is his best yet (from the ones I've seen of course).Some of the jokes are really funny and Drew Barrymore is always a joy to watch. The story has got the basics of the comedy classic "Groundhog Day" with the genius Bill Murray.Adam Sandler doesn't even come close to Murray but that's a whole other story.The tale is about a guy named Henry (Adam Sandler) who falls in love with a girl named Lucy (Drew Barrymore).The girl has no short time memory,so each day she experiences the same sunday,her father's birthday no less.To make life tolerable for her,her father and brother (funny role by Sean "Band of Brother" Astin) recreate the same sunday each time. Yes,it looks a lot like "Groundhog Day" but from another perspective.
Anyway,the jokes are not bad.Some are a long time a-comin' and some have very lame endings.Especially the ones concerning sex.It always seems that the American's are so prudish yet sex-obsessed that the jokes always seem childish. My favorite laugh comes when we see Lucy doing her daily routine with her family.Because she always thinks that her father has his birthday she gives him the same present everyday:A video tape of "The Sixth Sense".This is truly a good joke since that movie is not a movie you have got to see more then twice (since it has such a brilliant climax that only blows you away once).The fact that her father and brother have to see this movie everyday is a good joke,but only when you've seen "The Sixth Sense".
And that's the problem with a lot of the jokes.Some are very American,they are based on American culture like baseball and American News.For Europeans like me that is hard to understand.
The movie goes on too long.It should have ended when Lucy decides to break up with Henry.But hey,it is an American movie and all American comedies have to end uplifting because of the contemporary global situation.That is a shame,cause the movie would have been more powerful with a downbeat yet realistic ending.
PS: The supporting roles by Roy Schneider and Dan Aykroyd are great!
6/10