From Deseret News archives:
Sandler fans blindly loyal go figure
Well, before we make too much of this, let's remember that the film did take in $40 million. And despite being $20 million less than "Kung Fu Panda," that's still a hefty sum for the first three days.
And it's on par with what Sandler's comedies tend to earn.
Skipping his forays into more dramatic material ("Reign Over Me" and "Spanglish"), Sandler's most recent efforts opened in a similar range "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" (which teamed Sandler with Kevin James) earned $34 million, "Click" came in at $40 million and "The Longest Yard" at $47 million.
And by the time they had finished their theatrical runs, each had topped $100 million, which remains the film industry's hit-status benchmark.
In fact, a roughly $40 million opening weekend, followed by earnings of more than $100 million, tells the story for nearly every Sandler-starring farce since "The Waterboy" a decade ago. "Big Daddy," "Mr. Deeds," "Anger Management" (teamed with Jack Nicholson) and "50 First Dates" (teamed with Drew Barrymore) are all in that ballpark.
Critical speculation has been that "Nicky" flopped because Sandler didn't play the likable doofus that has become his signature character. But that theory may be put to rest by "Zohan," in which Sandler also tries something a little different, playing a former Israeli counterterrorist who comes to New York to be a hairstylist. (This character is not quite as obnoxious as Satan's spawn, which he played in "Little Nicky.")
Still, it's hard to figure out why "Little Nicky" is the anomaly, because it's apparent that Sandler has a hard-core fan base that doesn't care about the individual quality of his movies. They just love Sandler.
How else do we explain the really awful Sandler movies that nonetheless became hits? Is "Little Nicky" really any worse than "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" or "Mr. Deeds"? Or "You Don't Mess With the Zohan," for that matter?
Recent comments
Someone took a date to a Sandler movie? WOW! Talk about secure in a...
Re: don't go to the Zohan | June 18, 2008 at 9:25 a.m.
I hope there are enough junior high athletes to support this movie....
Legal Age | June 13, 2008 at 6:23 p.m.
There was no innuendo about it, this movie was blatent and crude and...
Innuendo? | June 13, 2008 at 3:30 p.m.
- NASA sets Monday shuttle launch 11:53 a.m.
- WVC robberies investigated 11:41 a.m.
- Funeral today for Utah soldier 11:16 a.m.
- Vaccination clinic set in St. George 11:15 a.m.
- $47B in suspect Medicare claims 11:11 a.m.
- 3 dead in Reno helicopter crash 11:02 a.m.
- Galaxy headed to MLS Cup 10:45 a.m.
- Veteran climber dies in Himalayas 10:36 a.m.
- Slovakia beats U.S. 1-0 10:30 a.m.
- Suicide attack kills 11 in Pakistan 10:28 a.m.
- Attack meant to kill apostle
- Williams leaves, won't play tonight
- Short-handed Jazz fly past Sixers
- Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
- Man killed during 3rd I-15 crash
- Bench proves fruitful for Y.
- D-Will home for daughter
- Trial begins in toddler death
- Born of water and the spirit
- Utes excited for 'dream' game
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
349 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
199 - Senators want food tax restored
162 - Will state consider gay rights law?
145 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
129 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
113 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
105 - Celtics crush Jazz
104 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
103
Singer Thurl "Big T" Bailey, formerly of the Utah Jazz, will perform a...
The reason that won't be the case is because, unlike your teams line, our...
This freedom of speech issue is enough to make me want to remain as a private...
What is everyone talking about? Good luck next game? I could have sworn I...
yeah, TV might be rude. but springville isn't smart for trying to compare...
Thanks, Robinson, for a laugh-out-loud funny article which makes a point then...
WAC 1-0 vs the MWC this year, next week will be 2-0 for the WAC when Utah...
"Three Rivers" is an excellent program. I hope everyone will tune in!
A real man! What a pro that Mathis is! He's great! I thought Matthews played...
I wouldn't call Brown "big". Tall, maybe, but he's maybe the skinniest high...
Tobacco prevention saves lives and money.


