FILM

USA 2011 91 mins Dir: Denis Dugan Starring: Adam Sandler, Al Pacino, Katie Holmes

What could be more annoying than Adam Sandler? Why two Adam Sandlers, of course - one of them 'hilariously' done up in drag. Having blessed his undemanding audience with this single joke, it's business as usual for Sandler: lowest common denominator flatulence gags, sickening sentimentality, ethnic stereotyping that straddles the lazy/offensive divide, breathtakingly shameless product placement (Subway reportedly paid to have their spokesman, Jared Fogle, included in the cast, which must mark a new low) and grim cameos by his celebrity mates (US sports and TV stars you won't have heard of, plus an embarrassed-looking Johnny Depp). In case you're wondering, Al Pacino's smugly self-mocking role doesn't really count as a cameo. It's a major part in the film, permitting him to do some of the shouting he so often prefers to acting, while sending up 'Scarface' and 'The Godfather'. It's rather like the least funny episode of 'Extras' ever made. Of course, Sandler has form when it comes to humiliating Oscar-winners. His previous film, 'Just Go With It', co-starred Nicole Kidman.

Sandler plays commercials director Jack Sadelstein, who's married to the unfortunate Erin (Holmes) and has an adopted Indian son for comedy reasons. Jack dreads the annual Thanksgiving visit by his sister Jill (yup, Sandler again): a loud, tactless, stupid, sweaty Jewish spinster. But he's also keen to sign Al Pacino for a career-saving Dunkin' Donuts TV ad. Naturally, Al falls for Jill and mirthless PG-rated shenanigans ensue. By the time the 'womb mates' resort to burbling twin baby talk at one another during the climactic onslaught of grotesque family values sentiment, Pacino's verdict on Jack's commercial ("Burn this. This must never be seen.") becomes an insightful critique of the film itself. (Robin Askew)

Website www.jackandjill-movie.com/

Opens: February 3

Copyright Robin Askew 2012