Like an old car with a new Earl Scheib paint job.

Rating: 6/10 (16 June 2004)

"50 First Dates" is about a brain-damaged woman (Barrymore) who has short term memory loss such that she wakes up every day unable to remember the previous day and therefore thinks every day is the same day. Such is the premise of this Hawaiian flavored flick in which the always deadpan Sandler grapples with the memory issue while trying to fall in love with a woman who greets him daily like a complete stranger. Add some kookie characters, some pretty Hawaiian scenery, a few cute marine animals, and some very ordinary music and you have one uninspired formula romcom which is nothing special but should be a pleasing time-passer for young adult females and Sandler and Barrymore fans. (C+)