The Do-Over (2016)

Movie Info

Just a couple guys hanging out…

Charlie (David Spade) hates his average life which hasn’t changed since high school.  When he runs into Max (Adam Sandler) at a class reunion, Max decides Charlie’s life has got to change…and kills him to prove it.  Charlie wakes up to find Max has faked his death and now he’s living life as Dr. Ronald P. Fishman while Max is Butch Ryder.  Unfortunately, Fishman met with an untimely death and both Charlie and Max are now on the run from people who want to kill them.  Teaming up with Fishman’s wife Heather (Paula Patton), Charlie and Max must find out why everyone wants Fishman and Ryder dead before it is too late.

Directed by Steve Brill, The Do-Over was the second of Adam Sandler’s features to premiere on Netflix following The Ridiculous 6 in 2015.  The movie was generally poorly received by critics.

Adam Sandler…action star!!!

Adam Sandler is one of those comedians who have the same shtick in every movie.  As he’s matured, the shtick has only matured slightly with him and it seems it is harder and harder for Sandler to keep the level he was accustom to in the ’90s.  In the movie he’s team with his old friend David Spade who like Sandler is rather one dimensional.  Together they make a rather one-dimensional movie that works if you like the two actors but probably won’t if you aren’t a fan of Sandler or Spade.

The movie really, really tries for a story.  The faked deaths and the cancer plot leaves an opening for twists and turns, and the movie tries to evoke a Planes, Trains, and Automobiles type of heartstring emotion near the end, but it is still pretty shallow (and ends shallow).  It isn’t the best movie you’ll see but it isn’t the worst either.

I honestly don’t mind either Sandler or Spade much since I watched them evolve on SNL and then in film (or remain the same).  Neither actor evokes the rage that some critics have toward them but neither actor gets loving nostalgia from me.  They are fine at what they do and have been doing it for years…the rating of the movie just determines its gross-out level.  The movie also features appearances by Michael Chiklis, Sean Astin, Katheryn Hahn, and Luis Guzman in smaller roles.

Wait! Are you a film critic?!?!

The movie looks like a big budget theater release (in the world of comedy action movies).  If I had seen it years later, I wouldn’t have guessed it was made exclusively for Netflix because at least the production value is relatively high.  The new world of direct streaming is changing the game, and Sandler’s turn on Netflix shows it.

The Do-Over is harmless.  It isn’t a great movie, it isn’t a bad movie.  It has a few chuckles but not enough laughs to call it a good comedy.  With Netflix pay (and people apparently watching), Sandler could have a good long run with Netflix.  This must have Spade licking his chops after putting out Joe Dirt 2 on Crackle…I bet he hopes a new deal is in the works.

Related Links:

The Ridiculous 6 (2015)