Let's face it: There's just something about Adam Sandler that tickles our funny bone. You might not want to admit that you secretly watch You Don't Mess with the Zohan when no one else is around, but it's cool – we get you. Sandler, no matter what crazy character he's playing, just has a way of making us laugh, be it through some outlandish costume or ridiculous voice – there's a reason why his films make so much money at the box office.
Sure, I guess you can say that some of his films are stupid, juvenile and meant for people with half a brain. But sometimes the best comedy comes out of really moronic situations, and that's where Adam Sandler thrives. So, in honor of his return to theaters this weekend in the comedy Grown Ups, here, now, are what I consider to be Adam Sandler's five best movies.
Billy Madison – This is the film that really put Adam Sandler on the big-screen map – a film in which he played a spoiled, idiotic rich kid who actually goes back to school (beginning with elementary school) in order to inherit his father's company. Definitely worth a spot on this list, if only for the scenes where Sandler's character totally owns the kids on the playground with a game of dodgeball.Punch-Drunk Love – My favorite Sandler film to date is one that features him as a character who's more manic and neurotic than overly idiotic and childish. Here he plays a man who must juggle his job, his relationships with several overly inquisitive sisters, a new love and a serious case of OCD. Paul Thomas Anderson's Punch-Drunk Love is a film that's awkwardly funny and extremely heartwarming at the same time. The characters are all expertly written, with Sandler shining in a role that should've brought him an Oscar nod.
Reign Over Me – Perhaps Sandler's most dramatic role to date, here he played a down-and-out man who rekindles a relationship with his old college roommate (played by Don Cheadle) and uses it to help him move past the grief he's been suffering after losing his family in the 9/11 attacks. Equal parts sad and uplifting, Reign Over Me also features one helluva soundtrack.The Wedding Singer – Out of all of Sandler's generic romantic comedies, it was his first pairing with Drew Barrymore that totally won me over. Here, he plays a down-on-his-luck wedding singer who falls in love with a waitress who's engaged to another man. The totally '80s vibe, music and hilarious background characters make this one a must-see for you rom-com fanatics out there.
Happy Gilmore – It's a film that definitely belongs to Sandler's "Moronic Collection", but there's just no denying that this tale about an overly aggressive hockey player who takes his fight out on the game of golf is just too good to pass up. Throw in a hilarious fight scene involving Bob Barker, and I'd watch this over a real-life golf match any day of the week.Which Adam Sandler films are your favorites?
