Jack and Jill Review
Adam Sandler stars alongside himself in this feel good movie.
What is Jack and Jill all about?
Adam Sandler is back with a feel-good movie starring himself and himself. In Jack and Jill, a story about a set of adult twins, Jack and Jill (both played by Sandler himself) find themselves revisiting their childhood in an adult world; sometimes forgetting the intimacy and innocence that they left behind not too long ago.
The movie continues in the same style of movies with actors who dress up as females (e.g. Martin Lawrence in “Big Momma’s House”, and Tyler Perry as Madea in the Madea series). It does get uncomfortable to watch at first but as the show goes on, Sandler does a very good job at making sure, Jack and Jill, the twin characters, are as distinct as possible.
The movie begins with Sandler playing Jack Sadelstein, a variation on his usual on-screen self (think “Big Daddy” and “Funny People”). Sadelstein is a well-to-do, middle-aged advertising executive who suddenly finds himself in a crisis.
The story slowly unravels as Jill, the seemingly loud and obnoxious Brooklyn-based sister barges in to stay with her more successful brother Jack, who is based in Los Angeles. Jack has always been dismissive of his sister and proceeds to try and alienate her from his life and his family. Through a series of events, Jack finally realises that at the end of the day, blood does run thicker than water.
Judging by outward appearances
“When they measure themselves with themselves and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding and behave unwisely” (2 Corinthians 2:12).
The underlying message of Jack and Jill is not to judge a person by their outward appearance and behaviour. Jack inadvertently compares himself to Jill and does not comprehend why his own twin would be so different from him. As a result of this misguided judging and comparison, the slightest annoyance from Jill will result in Jack blowing his top and behaving unwisely.
““Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:2)
As a result of the constant comparing and judging, Jack is relentlessly on the lookout for Jill’s weaknesses and flaws, failing to reflect on his own shortcomings. However, in the end, Jack realises the folly of his ways, and is able to see Jill for who she really is and not what he previously perceived her as.
The final word
The movie has a fair few crude jokes that might offend a few people in the audience but the PG rating is just about right. Overall, the underlying story has an uplifting and positive message to convey, but the execution, sadly, leaves a lot to be desired.
Read more about
Stay in the loop