chuck_and

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry

U.S. Release Date: 7/20/07
Running Time: 1:45
Rated: PG-13 (Profanity, nudity)

Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Jessica Biel, Dan Aykroyd, Ving Rhames, Steve Buscemi

Director: Dennis Dugan
Screenplay: Barry Fanaro and Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor
Music: Rupert Gregson-Williams
Studio: Universal Pictures

In recent years, the pushing of gay rights and domestic partnerships have polarized Americans politically and socially. While conservatives shout, “It’s Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve,” liberals demand equality.

By presenting views from both sides of the spectrum, cinema helps to bridge the gap between extremes and point the homosexuality needle toward generally acceptable. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry is the latest entry in the effort to solidify the commonality of same-sex relationships and trumpet their parity.

In the same breath, Chuck and Larry is Hollywood’s comedy “coming-out” party. Although many full-length features have ventured into the realm of gay interest, Chuck and Larry is the first film to depict gay stereotypes from a heterosexual point-of-view and add a humorous twist to its homosexual situations.

Following the death of his wife, New York City fire-fighter Larry Valentine (Kevin James) must name a new beneficiary to ensure that his children will be cared for in the event of Larry’s death by fire. Considering Larry saved his best-friend and coworker Chuck Levine (Adam Sandler) from a tragic fall, Larry asks Chuck to return the favor in the form of filing for a domestic partnership. However, the partnership involves more than Chuck and Larry initially bargained for.

What started as a way to cheat the system for benefits and seemed as simple as forwarding Chuck’s mail to Larry’s address, quickly elevates into being inspected by insurance inspector Clint Fitzer (Steve Buscemi) and counseled by drop-dead gorgeous attorney Alex McDonough (Jessica Biel). With Larry’s pension on the line, Chuck and Larry attempt to convince the world that they are a legitimate gay couple.

Without a doubt, straight men pretending to be gay provides for clever banter. Yet, when the motion-picture is a Happy Madison production, the results are typical. The players are the same, the obligatory side characters are expected, and the laughs are average. Fortunately, the cast comes in handy in upping the film’s funniness. Unfortunately, the laughs are mostly a result of delivery, not material.

Yes, the names James, Sandler, and Buscemi guarantee a few belly laughs, but additional chuckles come from cameos by Rachel Dratch, David Spade, Lance Bass, Dave Matthews, and Dan Patrick. Ving Rhames shines as a masculine newly-gay firefighter, while Jessica Biel exudes a ton of charm and sex-appeal as Sandler’s love interest. Still, as the cast bodes well, the film falls short of expectations.

When the plot spirals into a courtroom trial, Chuck and Larry goes beyond being a vehicle to brew gay gags; it begins to preach tolerance. How is it that a feature can bash gay love one second, and then defend it with pride the next? This is what makes Chuck and Larry more of a motion to build awareness that the word “faggot” is derogatory than a full-fledged comedy.

Sadly, the storyline is a gimmick from beginning to end, and it’s entirely based on a sham. Director Dennis Dugan attaches the same style he used to direct The Benchwarmers and downgrades Chuck and Larry. The bottom-line is: what could have worked doesn’t. To cheat the world of benefits/insurance is fraud, and to cheat viewers on more than one level is the same.