JACK AND JILL (Dennis Dugan)

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JACK AND JILL is hardly original concept, and while most of the jokes are low-grade toilet humor, the film manages to be funny at some point. It's a bar better than the awfully excruciating GROWN UPS, and its evil spawn JUST GO WITH IT.

Adam Sandler plays both of the titular characters, who are brother and sister twins. The female twin Jill, is coming to L.A. for Thanksgiving, and is going to stay with his brother Jack for a few days. Jack's wife Erin (Katie Holmes) is more accommodating, while Jack can't wait for his sister to already leave. When a business deal that requires actor Al Pacino (yes, the one and only) to be wooed into doing a coffee commercial for a donut company (shameless product placement), Jack uses his sister as bait knowing that Pacino fancies her. 

Oddly enough, I was surprised the producers got Al Pacino to be in this movie. Make no mistake, Pacino's presence is hilarious and right on. I am just baffled. And another thing, since Pacino was made to channel some Michael Corleone, he could have been asked to go all the way. Impressions of THE GODFATHER always works. 

The toilet humor will never die, especially if Dennis Dugan is the one directing Adam Sandler, and while watching JACK AND JILL is pure guilty escapism, there comes a point where much is too much. The unnecessary skits (what's with the religious debate?) and the cliched ending sinks the film into generic territory.  What is missing is a great big hug for everyone. (Oh wait, they did that at the end of the movie.)

I don't know about you, but I think the Indian adopted son character is useless bordering on racism. There is no motivation whatsoever for his weird behavior.

Like I said, it's a popcorn flick, but I wish Sandler would give us more value for our money, in the tradition of 50 FIRST DATES, CLICK, and THE WEDDING SINGER. 

Rating: 2/5




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