I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007)

Directed by: Dennis Dugan | 140 minutes | comedy, romance | Actors: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Jessica Biel, Steve Buscemi, Dan Aykroyd, Nicholas Turturro, Richard Chamberlain, Ving Rhames, Tila Nguyen

The names Chuck and Larry may initially be reminiscent of two tall, typically American truck drivers. Not is less true; Chuck and Larry, firefighters by trade, are true heroes and the epitome of testosterone and womanizers. Chuck (Adam Sandler) then, because Larry (Kevin James) is still not over his wife who died three years ago. To ensure that when Larry dies, his children are not left without money, he is forced to remarry. Due to a loophole in the law, a cohabitation contract with a man – as a homosexual couple – is also sufficient. Everything seems nice and nice on paper and Larry convinces Chuck to become his partner. After all, they are only gay according to the contract… They just didn’t count on shark Clinton Fitzer (a lesser role by Steve Buscemi). Fortunately, also for the male audience, there is the stunning lawyer Alex McDonough (Jessica Biel), who makes you wonder whether she has a male name on purpose or not. Anyway, what once seemed like a good secret is now out in the open and Chuck and Larry find out that being gay is a lot harder than they thought. Because yes, of course there is also a lot of propagation here.

Unlike movies like ’50 First Dates’ and ‘Click’, Adam Sandler, assisted by his partner Kevin James (‘Hitch’), is back on top form when it comes to jokes. The only real disturbing factor is his terrible accent, and unfortunately he needs that sound to talk. Kevin James, who normally doesn’t get any further than underwear fun in the series ‘The King of Queens’, now also knows how to show a more serious side. Chuck and Larry don’t just stand for fun and pleasure, but also for the bond that two men, or friends for that matter, can have with each other in a purely platonic way. And well… under the right circumstances, that can develop into a real (albeit sexless) love affair. Larry’s children are certainly worth mentioning, especially his son (played by newcomer Cole Morgen) who is what Larry and Chuck should be… Gay with a capital letter. Jessica Biel as the gullible lawyer is also welcome, as well as her film brother Nick Swardson, who knows how to bring light-heartedness even under serious circumstances.

All in all, ‘I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry’ contains a healthy dose of humor and hilarity, although being prosecuted by the state isn’t really something you could call a ‘hilarious sequel’… So no hot Hollywood star for Sandler this time around. to share – apart from those few ‘slippers’ with women – but a friendly teddy bear. Ultimately, ‘I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry’ is a product that won’t make you fall in love right away, but it certainly is loveable – and gay.