If it’s summer, it must be time for another Adam Sandler comedy.
This week’s effort finds Sandler and three-time co-star Drew Barrymore having a bad date that somehow winds up with both of them going to Africa.
Sounds like a must!
But what movies have been statistically designated the very worst of Sandler’s career?
So many choices! Let’s look at the bottom 10 movies starring Sandler according to the approval ratings on the review aggregator Web site RottenTomatoes.com.
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1. 'Jack and Jill' (2011)
3 percent on Rotten Tomatoes
You could feel it the first time you saw the trailer or the poster, couldn’t you? Adam Sandler playing an ad exec and his twin sister at a Thanksgiving gathering? It was almost preordained that this would be the worst. Sandler. Comedy. Ever.
“The apocalypse starts here” — Tom Long, Detroit News
“More than 24 hours has passed since I watched the new Adam Sandler movie ‘Jack and Jill’ and I am still dead inside.” — Mary F. Pols, Time
“Guess what’s playing in movie critic hell?” — James Verniere, Boston Herald
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2. 'Grown Ups 2' (2013)
7 percent on Rotten Tomatoes
Much like the original, only worse.
“‘Grown Ups Minus 2’ would be more apt.” — Mark Jenkins, NPR
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3. 'Bulletproof' (1996)
8 percent on Rotten Tomatoes
Much like “48 Hours,” in that it seemed like two days went by while watching Sandler (as a criminal) and Damon Wayans (as an undercover cop) who go on the run from hired killers in Arizona.
“Though seemingly sprightly in length, it’s not pretty to watch it slowly bleed to a conclusion.” — Leonard Klady, Variety
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4. 'Grown Ups' (2010)
10 percent on Rotten Tomatoes
Sandler and pals David Spade, Chris Rock and Kevin James reunite for a summer vacay with their families.
“The movie couldn’t be more pathetic if it hired clowns to dash through the audience tossing handfuls of candy and gum.” — Kyle Smith, New York Post
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5. 'Adam Sandler’s Eight Crazy Nights' (2002)
12 percent on Rotten Tomatoes
Sandler plays a jerk who must learn the true meaning of Hanukkah in this animated film with music.
“Sets animation back 30 years, musicals back 40 years and Judaism back at least 50.” — Roger Moore, Houston Chronicle
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6. 'I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry' (2007)
14 percent on Rotten Tomatoes
Firefighter buddies Sandler and Kevin James have a civil union — even though they’re not gay — for insurance reasons. Laffs fail to ensue.
“Works hard at not being offensive. It just doesn’t work hard enough at being good.” — Stephanie Zacharek, Salon
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7. 'Just Go With It' (2011)
19 percent on Rotten Tomatoes
Sandler is a plastic surgeon who gets his assistant (Jennifer Aniston) to pretend to be his ex-wife so he can chase Brooklyn Decker around Hawaii.
“The kind [of movie] that makes you want to repeatedly hit yourself in the face with a hammer. You’d have more fun doing that, too.” — Dave White, movies.com
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8. 'That’s My Boy' (2012)
20 percent on Rotten Tomatoes
Sandler plays a crass dad who pops in to ruin the wedding of his long-estranged son (Andy Samberg) on the latter’s wedding day.
“Honestly, this is one of those movies you feel stupider just for having sat through. I think I’m already worse at math.” — Bill Goodykoontz, the Arizona Republic
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9. 'Little Nicky' (2000)
21.7 percent on Rotten Tomatoes
Playing Satan in typically immature style, Sandler tried to prove hell is for children, but neither audiences nor critics gave a damn.
“What I cannot understand is why he has devoted his career to finding new kinds of obnoxious voices and the characters to go along with them.”— Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
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10. 'Mr. Deeds' (2002) 21.9 percent
21.9 percent on Rotten Tomatoes
Who would have guessed that a remake of a Frank Capra movie starring Jimmy Stewart would somehow turn out to be not as good when it starred Sandler (and Winona Ryder)?
“The projectors in the theater practically shut down with boredom” — Desson Thomson, The Washington Post