Just Go With It

Rating : 7/10
Release Date : 8th April, 2011 (India)
Time : 117 minutes
Director : Dennis Dugan ; Writer : Allan Loeb, Timothy Dowling (based on the play & the movie ‘Cactus Flower’); Music : Rupert Gregson-Williams
Starring : Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Brooklyn Decker, Griffin Gluck, Bailee Madison, Nicole Kidman, Nick Swardson, Dave Mathews

Walked in with zero expectations and walked out with a broad smile.



While the storyline is a derivative of the brilliant ‘Cactus Flower’, about a man who pretends to be married (and in this case says horrible things about his wife to garner sympathy) so that he never has to commit to anyone, there are several twists added to keep you interested.


So, Adam Sandler, who accidentally discovers the power of the wedding ring, is doing all great till a chance encounter with the very young and oomphalicious Brooklyn Decker makes him want to commit. However, she doesn’t want to break up a home, wants to meet his wife and then his kids. One thing leads to another and soon they are holidaying in Hawaii together.



Funny subplots include how he persuades his assistant, Jennifer Aniston, to become the pretend wife and her kids (she is a single parent) to become his pretend kids (one of the most funny negotiation meetings ever !). Or the whole thing about Devlin, Jennifer’s college bete noire. Or the man who is Jennifer’s pretend boyfriend and his funny accent. The shopping sequence at Jimmy Choo (‘why are these shoes so expensive, are they made with panda fur? Do the rolling stones come out and perform me’). Or the sheep fight club – possibly the funniest moment of the film.

Jennifer Aniston continues to amaze me, feel she is very under rated as an actress. Able to emote very easily, extremely comfortable during humour scenes, with sarcasm being her forte. And yet, she is able to exude a vulnerability, a natural sensitivity that makes you want to side with her. The fact that she looks stunning helps as well. Brooklyn does what she is hired to do – look young, bouncy (pun intended) and good in a bikini. Adam Sandler am not that quite sure of. He was good here but am not so certain someone else wouldn’t have been better. The kids deserve a very special mention, Bailee with her fake British accent and desire for acting classes and Griffin with his Mafiosi air and deep rooted desire to swim with the dolphins despite not knowing swimming. Nicole Kidman is charming in her special role as well which rounds up a nice cinematic experience.



The beauty of this film was that despite my being intimately familiar with the original storyline, I was constantly surprised. And was made to laugh very loudly on several occasions. Not all of it is plausible, but it's great fun!