I *love* it. Really.

Rating: 10/10 (14 August 2014)

First of all, this movie is one of my absolute all-time favourites. The first time I saw it, I cried like a baby at the end, and continued to do so for the best part of an hour afterward. I was watching it alone, on DVD, so I was able to fully let go, completely releasing myself into those blissful waves of emotion. And yes, I do cry in movies now and then. But never like this.
50 First Dates is a synergy of many elements coming together: plot, themes, characters, humour, pathos, music, acting, etcetera, to create something that is entertaining, fresh, beautiful and real. The humour is less inane than you often get from Adam Sandler and his mates, and there is more genuine fun. But where the film really shines for me is that the movie is entirely about relationships, and there are so many of them ... Lucy with her father (Marlin) and brother (Doug), Nick and Sue at the diner, Henry and Ula, Ula with his kids, Henry with the aquarium animals, and of course Alexa mixes things up.
Okay, so the primary plot device, Lucy's memory problem, may not be realistic ... but that doesn't seem to matter. The movie makers have taken that idea and created from it an original story which is both light-hearted and poignant. The writing, casting, direction and acting are all excellent. Ignore the posters, which were terrible, and don't let the name of the movie put you off either. Just see it.