Plot Details: This Review Reveals Minor Details About the Plot.
"Love is a Many-Blended Thing."
Plot Overview
Dick Reynolds the owner of Dick's Sporting Goods has been developing a successful personal relationship with businesswoman Jen (Wendi McLendon-Covey) of Closet Queens, organizers of closets, (“I L-word you, too, Dick”) so he decides to take it to the next level by booking a stay at Sun City Resort in South Africa for their fourth annual Blended Family Week. When Jen discovers Dick has five children, though, she breaks up with him leaving them with non-refundable reservations for the week. Dick's employee Jim Freeman (Adam Sandler) persuades Dick to let him and his three girls take his place (“We're going to Africa!”), and Jen's business partner Lauren (Drew Barrymore) and her two boys sub for Jen (“We're going to Africa!”) The kids of various ages will all benefit from bonding with an adult of the same sex, something their involved parent could not give them.
Jim and Lauren had both been out of circulation for a long time. Apart from a single (disastrous) blind date, Lauren “hadn't been on a date in twenty years.” Jim hadn't been dating either, “not since high school” except for once and that was a disaster, too. In fact it was the same disastrous blind date with each other! This “exciting, amazing, romantic” week will give them a chance to reevaluate their impressions of each other, and when it's over there remains the question of whether their newly formed opinions carry any weight in the real world where the ghost of one dead spouse still hovers, and one lout of an ex looms large.
Ideology
“Blended” follows the form of the last third of one of the Psalms. First, there were arrangements to effect an “emergency escape” from the disingenuous stranger they found themselves on a blind date with: Psalm 144:11. Then there was the blossoming of both son and daughter at the resort: Psalm 144:12. There was, of course, the matter of how these two working stiffs could even afford such an expensive getaway: Psalm 144:13. And how it would all work out; whether the ghost of a deceased spouse would break in to the present or an ex go out of his way to make trouble; and whether the kids would find something to complain about: Psalm 144:14. Finally, do they receive a blessing from above? Psalm 144:15.
Political Correctness
In one of the wildlife scenes, a guide Mfana (Abdoulaye NGom) points out a pride of lions that adopted an orphaned water buffalo calf into their blended family, but then he apologizes when the lions had Bambi for dinner. In a similar manner, we gaze on the end of Apartheid seeing mixed races at the beach, but the entertainment is dominated by an all black Greek, i.e. African, chorus (led by Terry Crews). But it's all very natural and shouldn't offend anyone save the especially sensitive.
Production Values
“Blended” (2014), aka: “The Familymoon”, was directed by Frank Coraci. It was written by Ivan Menchell and Clare Sera. It stars Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, and Wendi McLendon-Covey. The resort portion was filmed on location at the beautiful Sun City resort in South Africa, blended with wildlife scenes apparently spliced in. The chorus music was lively if a bit pervasive. Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore had good chemistry together. The former was in a more believable role than some I've seen him in. The latter was well organized. The children were an adorable blend if a bit quirky, some of them.
Review Conclusion w/ Consumer Recommendation
This is not an award winning movie, but it doesn't fall flat either. It succeeds at getting laughs and stirring emotions, which is what's important. As a bonus it rehabilitates Adam Sandler from some of the consumer drivel I've seen him in. He seemed a decent actor here. It rates a solid ‘C’ in my book, and is especially suited to families.
Movie Ratings
Action factor: Decent action scenes. Suitability for Children: Suitable for children 13+ years. Special effects: Average special effects. Video Occasion: Good for suitably aged family Groups. Suspense: A few suspenseful moments. Overall product rating: Three stars out of five.
bibles.n7nz.org