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"50 FIRST DATES"
(2004) (Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore) (PG-13)

Alcohol/
Drugs
Blood/Gore Disrespectful/
Bad Attitude
Frightening/
Tense Scenes
Guns/
Weapons
Moderate Moderate Moderate Minor None
Imitative
Behavior
Jump
Scenes
Music
(Scary/Tense)
Music
(Inappropriate)
Profanity
Moderate None None None Moderate
Sex/
Nudity
Smoking Tense Family
Scenes
Topics To
Talk About
Violence
Heavy None Minor Moderate Mild


QUICK TAKE:
Romantic Comedy: An aquatic veterinarian repeatedly tries to convince an art teacher, who suffers from short-term memory loss, that they're seeing each other.
PLOT:
Henry Roth (ADAM SANDLER) is a love 'em and leave 'em kind of guy who works as a veterinarian at Hawaii's Sea Life Park. When not tending to the animals with the aid of the gender nebulous Alexa (LUSIA STRUS) or hanging out with his wild friend Ula (ROB SCHNEIDER), Henry dates many women, but doesn't want to settle down since he dreams of heading to the artic to study walruses.

That changes one day when he happens upon a diner run by waitress Sue (AMY HILL) and short order cook Nick (NEPHI POMAIKAI BROWN). There, he spots the lovely Lucy Whitmore (DREW BARRYMORE) who's building structures out of her breakfast waffles. The two immediately hit it off, but the next day she doesn't seem to recognize him. Sue then informs Henry that Lucy suffered a brain injury about a year ago that left her long term memories intact, but has made her unable to retain any short-term ones. With her physician, Dr. Keats (DAN AYKROYD), unable to help her, every day is October 13th to Lucy, no matter what she did the day before.

As a result and despite the redundancy for them, her father, Marlin (BLAKE CLARK), and steroid-using brother Doug (SEAN ASTIN) go to extreme measures to make sure she experiences every day as if it's that date. They do so to protect her and thus become worried that Henry's obvious attraction to her might upset their delicate temporal balancing act. Nevertheless, Henry falls for Lucy more each day, despite her not recognizing him 24 hours later. From that point on, he tries to find ways to remind her of him and their previous time and experiences together.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
If they're fans of anyone in the cast or romantic comedies, they just might.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13
For crude sexual humor and drug references (on appeal from the original R, meaning no changes were made).
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
  • ADAM SANDLER plays an aquatic veterinarian who dates lots of women, but avoids commitment. That is, until he meets Lucy and then must deal with her lack of short-term memory. He uses some profanity, drinks some and eventually sleeps with her.
  • DREW BARRYMORE plays an art teacher who has no short-term memory due to a previous accident. Accordingly, she unknowingly relives the same day repeatedly, sometimes falling for Henry with whom she eventually has sex.
  • ROB SCHNEIDER plays Henry's wild friend, a somewhat grimy father with many kids who uses profanity, drinks some and nearly smokes a joint (it's inferred he does other drugs).
  • SEAN ASTIN plays Lucy's brother, a wannabe bodybuilder who uses steroids and thinks he's tougher and bigger than he really is. He uses some profanity.
  • LUSIA STRUS plays Henry's gender-nebulous assistant who comes on to various men.
  • BLAKE CLARK plays Lucy's caring father who's overprotective of her condition.
  • DAN AYKROYD plays Lucy's physician.
  • CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

    HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE


    Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
    Then read OUR TAKE of this film.


    (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).


    OUR WORD TO PARENTS:
    The following is a brief summary of the content found in this comedy that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 10 "s" words along with several slang terms for body parts, while other expletives and colorful phrases are uttered.

    Various instances of sexually related dialogue are present. There are several scenes of kissing, some brief groping occurs and sex is implied (we see the couple in bed afterwards). Another woman openly wants to have sex with the protagonist, some women are seen in revealing attire, and a supporting character is nebulous when it comes to gender.

    Various characters drink, one nearly smokes a joint and several drug references are made. Some crude humor is present (projectile vomiting and open body wounds), as are several instances of imitative behavior. Some slapstick style material is present, while some characters hit others (all played for comedy), and some of the material used for comedy (people with brain injuries) might not sit well with some viewers.

    If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.


    ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE
  • A woman mentions something about being drunk with Henry.
  • When a kid asks what's wrong with a turtle, Henry says that it smoked too much turtle weed and then implies that Ula does as well. Ula sheepishly replies that he doesn't smoke it.
  • Henry and Ula have beer.
  • There's brief mention of a drunken girlfriend in high school.
  • Miscellaneous people have drinks, including Henry's date who guzzles down her enormous one while suggestively stating that she'd like to do something extra fun tonight. She asks for another, the waiter sarcastically says he should just tap a keg for her, and she thinks she's getting drunk. She asks if Henry is, he says he's getting there, but then comes clean and states that the drinks have no alcohol, but he makes his dates think they do so that they allow for vigorous, guilt-free sex.
  • Ula has a beer.
  • Ula nearly lights up a joint and then places it in the back of his shorts.
  • Marlin tells Henry, "You earned yourself a couple of beers" and we then see them and Doug drinking beer.
  • We see images on a videotape that Henry has made for Lucy about what's occurred in the past year. Among them are the headlines (about the rapper), "Snoop quits weed" and "Snoop back on weed."
  • Miscellaneous people have drinks.
  • Henry wonders if Ula has "special brownies" in the pool.
  • Henry has a beer.
  • BLOOD/GORE
  • We briefly see a dead body on a sliding table in a morgue (nothing bloody or gory beyond being dead).
  • We briefly see Henry working on a moderate-sized wound/incision on Ula's side (no blood coming out, but an open wound).
  • A walrus does an enormous amount of projectile vomiting all over Alexa.
  • We see a small blood stain on Ula's shirt and then briefly see the above open wound on his torso.
  • We see a hospital photo of Lucy around the time of her accident and she has bruises and cuts on her face.
  • DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE
  • We see that Henry dates many women, but then lies to them about his profession to get out of seeing them again.
  • Some viewers may not like the film using those with brain injuries or faked illiteracy as the source of comedy.
  • When Doug hears of Henry's goal, he states that it "sounds fruity."
  • FRIGHTENING SCENES
  • Henry uses a penguin in the middle of the road bit as a gambit to get Lucy to stop. She's distracted, however, and doesn't see it, driving right over it (no contact and the penguin is okay as it's all played for comedy).
  • GUNS/WEAPONS
  • None.
  • IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR
  • Phrases: "Look at those two sh*theads," "Sh*t your pants," "Oh sh*t," "She sings like sh*t," "Enough with the t*tty dance," "What the hell is your problem?" "Balls" and "Nuts" (testicles), "Nympho," "Old ugly broad," "You're starting to freak me out," "Bitches," "Shut up," "You kids suck," "Whack the crap out of this thing," "Where the hell is it?" "Freaking hilarious," "Jeez," "Psycho girl," "Go nuts," "Moron," "You psycho," "Sucker," "I need something to wipe my ass with," "Looks like a stupid asshole to me," "What a loser," "I hope you're happy Shamu," "Numb nuts," "You crazy bitch," "I suck at this job," "Sounds fruity," "Horny," "Nuts" (crazy), "You asshole," "Pansy" (about a walrus), "Chick" (woman), "What an asshole," "You sick bastard," "Holy crap, I suck" and "That sucks."
  • Ula and a short order cook sport various tattoos.
  • Lucy builds small "structures" with her breakfast waffles.
  • We see Doug squeezing and relaxing his clothed butt cheeks and then making his pectoral muscles "dance." After the latter, Marlin says, "Enough with the t*tty dance."
  • Henry uses drinking water as a substitute for tears in trying to get Lucy to notice him (he later acts as if he can't read for the same purpose).
  • Nick gives "the finger" to Henry after losing a bet.
  • A miscellaneous man makes the male masturbation gesture with his hand (in regards to Henry's nonsexual actions).
  • Henry fakes receiving a shock when connecting jumper cables to a car battery.
  • Henry uses a penguin in the middle of the road bit as a gambit to get Lucy to stop. She's distracted, however, and doesn't see it, driving right over it (no contact and the penguin is okay, and it could inspire copycat behavior using other animals as it's all played for comedy).
  • There are various jokes about Doug taking steroids in his attempt to be a bodybuilder (we don't see him taking any).
  • Ula's kids run off a deck and do flips in the air before landing in the water. Ula tries to do the same, but instead does a painful belly flop.
  • Sue gives "the finger" to Ula.
  • JUMP SCENES
  • None.
  • MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)
  • None.
  • MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)
  • None.
  • PROFANITY
  • At least 10 "s" words, 3 slang terms for male genitals ("winkies," "manhood" and "schlong"), 2 for breasts ("t*tty" and "boob"), 8 asses (3 used with "hole"), 5 hells, 3 craps, 3 damns and 4 uses of "Oh my God."
  • SEX/NUDITY
  • Some miscellaneous women show cleavage in a montage, with one's nipples also evident under her tight-fitting top.
  • Women talk about dating Henry, with one stating, "It wasn't about the sex," but another says (in subtitles), "He pounded me like a mallard duck." A woman mentions something about his "hairy pair of testicles."
  • Ula says that sharks are like dogs in that they only bite when you touch their private parts.
  • Ula uses some sexual innuendo (with made up and/or real Hawaiian words), prompting one of his kids to asks what a "nympho" is (the answer is something nonsexual).
  • Alexa tells Henry that he/she has been deprived of intimacy and that he/she will go into Henry's office and get naked. He/she then states that he/she might not be as limber as he/she once was, but that he/she has enthusiasm and willingness to experiment. Henry that states that he's "not into guys" (although others later continue to question Alexa's gender).
  • Henry tells Lucy that when it comes to a walrus, the male parts can get pretty gigantic. When she asks which mammal has the largest after he says the walrus comes in second, he jokingly states it's the short order cook. Lucy then refers to such walrus organs as "winkies."
  • Ula uses more sexual innuendo (something about Waikiki sneaky between the peaky, or something along those lines).
  • After a golf ball hits him on the head (not seen), Henry imagines Lucy jumping him on the beach and we then hear him telling her to stop since his nipples are too sensitive.
  • Henry's date guzzles down her enormous drink while suggestively stating that she'd like to do something extra fun tonight. She then states that she thinks she's getting drunk. She asks if Henry is, he says he's getting there, but then comes clean and states that the drinks have no alcohol, but he makes his dates think they do so that they allow for vigorous, guilt-free sex. The woman is surprised, but then asks if she can still have sex with him anyway. He says he can't, prompting her to ask if he can point her in the direction of someone who can. Henry then points out Alexa to her.
  • Some innuendo on the part of the film and not the character has Henry stating that he was "petting my walrus" while thinking of Lucy the entire time.
  • Ula nearly lights up a joint and then places it in the back of his shorts (at the top of his visible butt crack).
  • A miscellaneous man makes the male masturbation gesture with his hand (in regards to Henry's nonsexual actions).
  • Doug states that every night with Lucy is a one-night stand (after Henry says that wasn't his intention).
  • Henry asks Alexa, "Did you hook up with that girl from the bar?" Alexa then replies, "I prefer sausage to tacos" (innuendo). After Henry states that he promised not to see Lucy, Alexa states, "I would shut my eyes when she serviced my manhood."
  • Lucy asks Henry, "Did we have sex?" He replies that they didn't, but want to, and then adds that he's just kidding about the latter part.
  • Doug asks Dr. Keats about any connection between steroids and having wet dreams, and Keats then comments on nocturnal emissions.
  • Henry gets a brain injury patient to ask Doug, "Don't you think you're a little old to still have wet dreams?"
  • When someone says, "sweet dreams," Henry says, "Keep 'em dry Doug."
  • While imitating Lucy, Ula states, "Aquariums make me super horny." He then grabs the half coconuts on his chest (representing her breasts) and lifts one so that he can lick it.
  • When Lucy comments on a friend being pregnant, the husband says, "I got her on the first try."
  • Henry and Lucy do some passionate, clothed kissing in a montage of several scenes. In one, he puts his hand on her clothed breast. She stops him, but laughs and he states that as this is the 23rd time they've made out, "they're getting blue" (referring to his testicles). She says that it's like the first time for her due to her short term memory loss. He then jokes that if they take the average of the two (23 and 1), that after their 12th date he gets "unlimited boob access."
  • Lucy jokingly asks the zoo's walrus if she should take Henry into another room and take advantage of him. Henry then signals for the walrus to "say yes." We then see more passionate kissing between Henry and Lucy with him then getting on top of her on a sofa. Ula then swims up to the window, rubs his own nipples and then makes a spanking gesture.
  • There's a joke about why Doug always has to change his sheets (referring to the wet dream problem).
  • Henry jokes that Lucy wishes he had Jacko the Walrus' "schlong."
  • We see Henry and Lucy in bed and under the covers (presumably after sex). When she wakes up the next morning, she doesn't recognize him.
  • When a comment is made about the walrus having the second largest penis, Dr. Keats jokes that he has the first.
  • A passage is read from Lucy's diary about her and Henry. It states, "We made love tonight. It didn't last long but it was incredible."
  • Henry and Lucy passionately kiss in the rain and her nipples are then visible through her wet shirt.
  • When Henry learns that a walrus has many "girlfriends," he tells the creature to remember to use a condom and then adds, "Or in your case, a Hefty bag."
  • Alexa grabs Doug's clothed butt.
  • A comment is made that sex could be nauseating for someone.
  • SMOKING
  • None.
  • TENSE FAMILY SCENES
  • Lucy fakes a bit about her grandfather dying while jump-starting a car.
  • We hear that Lucy's mother is dead.
  • TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT
  • Short term memory loss.
  • Some viewers may not like the film using those with brain injuries or illiteracy problems as the source of comedy.
  • There are various jokes about Doug taking steroids in his attempt to be a bodybuilder.
  • Lucy briefly comments on a friend having a gender reassignment (we see that person as a man).
  • VIOLENCE
  • Henry smacks Alexa in the face with a dead fish.
  • The mast on Henry's boat snaps, swings down and nearly hits him while causing some damage to the rest of the boat.
  • We see a brief and non-graphic flashback to the car accident that left Lucy with no short term memory. In it, her father is driving their vehicle that spins out of control many times before hitting a tree (we don't see the latter impact).
  • Marlin throws his shoe at Doug for taking advantage of Lucy's memory lapse.
  • Doug rushes at Henry to attack him, but misses and falls to the ground. Henry then grabs his feet in the air and stands on his hands.
  • Trying to get Lucy to notice him, Henry has Ula fake as if he's beating him up (although he kicks and hits him in reality). Lucy then drives up, gets out and repeatedly hits Ula rather hard with a metal pole. She then chases after and continues to hit him, although the latter impact is blocked by the terrain (all played for laughs).
  • Lucy throws various items at Henry when she doesn't recognize him in the morning (waking up in bed with him). She then hits him on the head with a lacrosse stick, knocking him out.
  • While suspended from the ceiling doing upside down sit-ups, Doug crashes to the floor when the contraption breaks.
  • Ula's kids run off a deck and do flips in the air before landing in the water. Ula tries to do the same, but instead does a painful belly flop.



  • Reviewed February 10, 2004 / Posted February 13 , 2004

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