Review: Adam Sandler’s Latest Netflix Special – Half Dumb, Half Sweet

There are two sides to Adam Sandler. One is the brash, in-your-face comedian known for fart jokes and crude humor that either makes you laugh or cringe, depending on your taste. The other side is more nostalgic, a bit romantic, and increasingly softer with age.

These two sides come together in a strange and somewhat disjointed way in Sandler’s new Netflix special, “Adam Sandler: Love You” (now streaming). Directed by Josh Safdie, one of Sandler’s collaborators from “Uncut Gems,” the hourlong special merges offbeat sex jokes with sudden bouts of melancholy and surrealism.

The special is a mix of emotions—jarring at times, sometimes off-putting, but also unexpectedly sweet. This complexity mirrors Sandler himself, who at 57, still churns out predictable Netflix hits criticized by many while occasionally delivering indie performances that earn him serious Oscar buzz. Despite some nice moments, “Love You” doesn’t reach the same heights as his 2018 special, “100% Fresh.” That previous special was full of energy and novelty, something that seems a bit faded now, though many of us can relate to feeling less vibrant after the past few tumultuous years.

Filmed at the Nocturne Theatre in Glendale, California, last winter, “Love You” kicks off with Sandler driving a car with a broken windshield into an alleyway. He’s immediately swarmed by fans and receives a hoodie from a stranger. It’s supposed to feel like raw, candid footage of Sandler’s preshow ritual but ends up feeling scripted and awkward, complete with a ventriloquist as an opening act—something that reeks of Safdie’s style, known for creating slightly off-kilter worlds in films like “Uncut Gems” and “Good Time.”

This isn’t very effective here, nor are the technical glitches that occur once Sandler takes the stage. While these could have been real, they come off as preplanned (considering the special was filmed over four nights, it seems likely). Coffee in hand (which he insists on sweetening with stevia), Sandler begins a series of middling jokes that range from mundane everyday observations to fantastical tales involving genies and talking balloons. Sandler has never been a comedian to share much of his real personal life, and this special is no exception, despite sneaking in moments about his experiences as a husband and father.

Many of Sandler’s typically crude jokes appear: kids walking in on their parents, a genie tricking him into a compromising situation in an airport bathroom, and songs about older men with young kids. He frequently crosses the line between funny and vulgar, but for longtime fans, that’s nothing new.

However, Sandler manages to balance these crass moments with simpler, more folksy jokes that hit the mark without inducing cringe. His longtime friend and collaborator Rob Schneider appears dressed as Elvis Presley for a surprisingly good impersonation, serving as a solid musical interlude rather than a joke. The sentimental ending pays tribute to the very idea of comedy, with clips of icons like Richard Pryor, Gilda Radner, and Sandler’s peers like David Spade and Chris Farley. The earnestness in these moments shines through the surface-level gags about a fictional wife and non-existent kids.

As the special concludes, Sandler’s actual wife, Jackie, escorts him off the stage and into his car, taking him home for what we imagine will be a quiet night. It paints a comforting picture of our comedy idols slipping away from the limelight with ease.

Perhaps a bit more effort in this special might have helped, but we’ll always have the amusing image of Schneider in an Elvis costume glittering on stage.

Source: USA TODAY