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Just Go With It (2011)

Director: Dennis Dugan

Time Out rating

Average user rating

6 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Left with a ring on his finger after a disastrous near-marriage which never reached the altar, Adam Sandler’s LA plastic surgeon has been using the misunderstood-hubby ruse to pick up a string of younger women. That’s fine, until he falls for bodacious-yet-amiable high school teacher Brooklyn Decker, who spots said ring and makes a sharp exit. So begins a fairly traditional situation comedy, where he plans to win her heart by having his loyal nursing assistant, Jennifer Aniston, pose as the wife he’s about to divorce, but once the lies begin, complication piles upon complication.

It’s a tried-and-tested scenario, actually a remake of 1969’s ‘Cactus Flower’, which had philandering Walter Matthau, an Oscar-winning Goldie Hawn and Ingrid Bergman (!) in the Aniston role. The central conceit serves the new version well enough, despite the filmmakers’ regrettable addition of sundry idiotic distractions, including the eminently throttlable Bailee Madison as Aniston’s wannabe actress daughter affecting a Dick Van Dyke-style cockernee accent throughout, and Nick Swardson’s intensely resistible turn as a bespectacled Teutonic ubergeek. Amid the lowbrow frolics with animatronic sheep and errant bowel movements, it’s a surprise to see Nicole Kidman pop up as Aniston’s bitchy college-era nemesis, and although she gamely tries to go with the flow, it’s evidently not her thing. Aniston, on the other hand, makes the clunking script seem better than it is, and gives the movie a semblance of heart, while Sandler delivers his usual one-note whiny ersatz sincerity. Not his worst, but the rewards are fitful.

Author: Trevor Johnston

Time Out London Issue 2112: 10 - 16 February, 2011

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User reviews of this film

Nico said...

Posted on Jul 02 2011 10:32 My wife and I enjoyed this movie. It's not the greatest plot and it is predictable but it is very funny and a good distraction from reality. I'd see it again just for the laughs.

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ed said...

Posted on Mar 24 2011 13:08 Started off terrible but was solely elevated by Jennifer Aniston and several funnier moments once the filmpitched up and went ot Adam Sandler's favourite film location (HAWAII) (does he live there??)
Mostly slack but not as shit as Larry & Chuck or Grown Ups... Is that a recommendation? hardly.
2** for Aniston.

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amy said...

Posted on Feb 22 2011 16:25 This film was exiting and hilarious. i will definatley be watching this film again. Adam sandler's and Jennifer Aniston's humour together shown to be a grate success. I would recommend this film to prity much anyone, old or young, Two stars for this film is an outrage. Money well spent!

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ARCHGATE said...

Posted on Feb 21 2011 20:58 Christmas has come early: This is a great big whopping turkey with Aniston stuffing. Fortunately I had an exit plan. Lasted 40 minutes and bolted for the cold miserable mean streets of London. A relief to be away from this shocking insult of a film. ... and THAT little girl.

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max said...

Posted on Feb 20 2011 10:11 2 star rating from Time Out? That's generous...

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scrumpyjack said...

Posted on Feb 12 2011 19:40 Crud? yes. ok crud? yes. Kids are "outnumbered" annoying and it fails as a rom com due to the ott "HE/SHE LOVES YOU!"feed, but as it goes....watchable. and IT USES soft cell's TAINTED LOVE to perfection! so I can't TOTALLY diss! 4/10

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