By Jeff Hartke, July 20, 2007

While subtlety and a light touch are not what you expect from an Adam Sandler (ASAND) movie, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (INPCL) manages to negotiate the minefield of its tetchy subject and still deliver plenty of laughs. It’s the best film ever put out by the Happy Madison crew, though fans of 50 First Dates might argue otherwise.

Adam Sandler and Kevin James (KJAME) are Brooklyn firefighters, best friends drawn even tighter by the danger they share in their daily work. A plot device prevents James from transferring his pension to his kids, so he tries to get around this by using domestic partnership law, with his buddy Sandler as a stand-in.

But the long arm of the law shows up in the person of Steve Buscemi (SBUSC) (now looking more than ever like John Waters’ illegitimate son) who’s there to sniff out and punish fraud. Our heroes now have to live openly as a gay couple – even though they’re not – or face prison. Hilarity now ensues. Except in this case, hilarity really does ensue, and effortlessly at that. In a beautifully scripted move, the personalities of Sandler and James remain pretty much the same, but everyone around them changes.

Sometimes these changes are for the good, sometimes not – but they’re always funny, and more importantly, on target. A case in point is Rob Smigel in a minor role as a gay mailman who lives near James and Sandler, and learns that they are a couple. Dropping by in the afternoon he propositions James by using every mail cliché in existence, like “I can handle any package.” It starts off uncomfortable, moves into stereotype and just keeps going, way past ridiculous. It’s a really funny bit, and only one of many.

Be warned, if you are the type that offends easily there’s plenty of stuff to get exercised about. Just about every ethnicity, religion and type of person takes a cheap shot to the groin at one point or another – but the key is that everyone also gets a chance to show their humanity. It’s a fine line to walk, but they pull it off. I don’t know if it’s thanks to the writing of comedy vet Barry Fanaro, Sideways scribe Alexander Payne (ALPAY), or Sandler maturing, but it’s very satisfying.

If you are willing to put aside your whatever prejudices you might have about Adam Sandler you just might enjoy yourself.

I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry opens in wide release July 20.

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