What Do The Critics Say?

"A comedy premise that supplies plenty of sidesplitting laughs ... as well as a strong, touching message about tolerance and acceptance." Edward Douglas COMINGSOON.NET "If there's a saving grace, and there is, it's that the movie strives, in its often-awkward way, for acceptance. And how bad can that be?" Bill Goodykoontz ARIZONA REPUBLIC "Raunchy, testosterone-driven Adam Sandler comedy with a relevant message about tolerance and acceptance." Susan Granger SUSANGRANGER.COM "I now pronounce it better than you'd think." Chris Hewitt ST PAUL PIONEER PRESS "Overall, if you like Adam Sandler movies this one won't disappoint." Vince Koehler ENTERTAINMENT SPECTRUM "Films that preach tolerance and respect for diversity, which is what this one does ultimately, are fine and good, and here's hoping the message comes across." Daniel M Kimmel WORCESTER TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

"There's nothing believable in Chuck and Larry, but with its ultra likeable cast, there is some fun to be had, despite the politically incorrect, homophobic, trite, dated and predictable laughs it generates." Louise Keller URBAN CINEFILE "I feel compelled to apologize about laughing at Chuck and Larry, like many Sandler films less a movie than a fistful of funny moments." Carrie Rickey PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER "Chuck & Larry proves that even the silliest comedy can offer important food for thought." Connie Ogle MIAMI HERALD "James has a big screen quality that reminded me of Chris Farley, who could also find a way to be both sweet and funny." Michael A Smith NOLAN'S POP CULTURE REVIEW "I laughed enough to assure myself I wasn't wasting my time, but not enough to convince me Sandler isn't on cruise control." Phil Villarreal ARIZONA DAILY STAR "Sandler fans probably won't be disappointed with Chuck and Larry. The jokes are in keeping with the juvenile and banal style he's perfected over the years. There's even a preposterous dropped soap gag built around a scene in the fire station showers involving Ving Rhames." Chris Bartlett BRISBANE SUNDAY MAIL

The Inside Story For those who have questioned whether "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry" is a rip-off of the Paul Hogan film, "Strange Bedfellows", I offer the following, straight from the horses mouth, so to say. The script for "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry" has had a lengthy history in Hollywood. Comedy director/producer Tom Shadyac and his production partner, Michael Bostick, of Shady Acres Entertainment developed the story and the script a decade ago with legendary comedy writer Barry Fanaro. Over the years, Shady Acres had supervised multiple treatments of the script with varied comic actors in discussions to play the well-intended con men. But they just hadn’t found the right comedy duo to give life to their Chuck and Larry. After bringing the script to Adam Sandler and his production partner at Happy Madison, Jack Giarraputo, the filmmakers knew that Chuck & Larry finally had found the right home. With revisions to Fanaro’s script by the Oscar® winning writing team of Alexander Payne ("Election", "About Schmidt" & "Sideways") and Jim Taylor ("Memory Lane", "Citizen Ruth", "Jurassic Park III" & "Sideways"), the story of two bumbling, good-hearted firefighters would soon be ready for production. "I loved the fact that this film was about how far you would you go for a friend," says Sandler, "and that these two guys would do anything for each other. "At the end of the day, this film is about friendship and how these two guys really look out for one another,"James comments. "I was unbelievably happy when Adam called and wanted me to do this movie with him." With producers Tom Shadyac ("Patch Adams" & "Bruce Almighty") and Michael Bostick ("Apollo 13", "Liar Liar" & "Evan Almighty") sold on the idea of Sandler and James in the film, Universal Pictures gave the project a greenlight. The producers then brought in longtime partner, comedy director Dennis Dugan, to helm the project. "This is our fourth movie together," Dugan notes. "We’ve taken a long road together over the past 10 years. Working as a director with Adam, you see he’s not just an actor for hire, a guy with a vanity company. He’s a real filmmaker. He writes, produces, develops; he’s in the editing room and on the music." The filmmakers surrounded themselves with a crew of familiar faces, including some longtime partners: Academy Award® winning cinematographer Dean Semler ("A Steam Train Passes" a 20 plus minute tribute to New South Wales Government Railways C38 steam locomotive class leader 3801), costume designer Ellen Lutter ("Cop Land"), production designer Perry Andelin Blake ("Leave It to Beaver") and editor Jeff Gourson ("Somewhere in Time"), all who had worked with Happy Madison on the company’s previous two productions, "Click" and "The Longest Yard". Now the casting process would get underway. With James and Sandler in the lead roles of Larry Valentine and Larry Levine (respectively) the first task was to find a leading lady for the role of lawyer Alex McDonough. It went to Jessica Biel ("The Rules of Attraction"), a woman who has played a variety of roles including: pastor's daughter Mary Camden in 205 episodes of the TV series "7th Heaven"; elite fighter pilot Lt Kara Wade in "Stealth", and a vampire hunter named Abigail Whistler in "Blade: Trinity". "I’ve always been a fan of Adam’s, but I initially had a tough time breaking into the comedy world, as I have done different genres in the past," says Biel. Dugan says it wasn't a hard choice noting, "She’s so cool; the most professional, kind, prepared, wonderful, extremely beautiful girl you could ever imagine working with. She moved so easily from "The Illusionist" to doing this crazed comedy." Firemen Chuck and Larry are part of the team at Engine 506/Ladder 223 under the command of Captain Tucker. "I was a big fan of Adam on Saturday Night Live. We’ve only done two films together before ("Coneheads" & "50 First Dates"), but I hope, as time goes on, he will think of me as one of his regular players," says legendary comedian Dan Aykroyd. As their commanding officer, Tucker "is placed in an extremely awkward situation. He wants the best for his men, but he realizes that these two guys are up to something where they can get into a lot of trouble, and he might be culpable as well." Engine 506/Ladder 223 company members include Kevin James’ real-life brother, comic Gary Valentine as suspicious Karl Eisendorf; Jonathan Loughran as clueless Nootzie; Michael Buscemi (brother of Steve) as tough guy Higgy; Nicholas Turturro as slightly crazy, narcissist Renaldo Pinera; JD Donaruma as initially homophobic J.D.; Peter Dante as jokester Tony Paroni, and Fred Duncan, the newest member of the team, played by Ving Rhames. "There’s nobody bigger and scarier than Ving," Dugan says, "but when he comes on the set, you find he really is a fierce actor who is surprisingly funny. Similarly, Duncan is mysterious and really scary, but it’s a surprise that he’s this sweet, wonderful guy." Rhames says he took the role because it gave him the chance to work in a "film that says something about the human experience, the human condition. I think even though this is a comedy, it is very poignant and it says something about society and how people are stereotyped." Steve Buscemi (Independent Spirit Best supporting Actor Award winner in 1993 & 2002) joined the team to play Clint Fitzer, who works in the investigation unit on insurance claims for the city of New York. Buscemi had a couple of reason for taking the role. First it was a comedy, and second he actually worked as a firefighter for the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) in the 1990s. And incase you're wondering, yes they did employ real firefighters to work on the film. "We needed real firefighters to drive the trucks. For example, we had a tiller truck, with a guy steering in the back, that is not easy to drive," Dugan revealed. "We needed those kinds of specific skills, and we knew it would be good to have real guys to round out our experience." And did they stick strictly to the script? "When getting the best actors, you’re stupid not to let them ad-lib. These people are really funny. For example, Aykroyd would say, 'What if I said this here?' and we would try it," Dugan said. "In the end, if it’s funny, it doesn’t matter who thought it up." As research for their roles as New York City firefighters, Sandler, James and their fellow firefighter actors spent several days in the summer heat at a modified drill tower in the Inglewood Fire Academy in Southern California. There, they worked with firefighters from the El Camino Fire Department to perfect their hose lays, chopping technique and, search and rescue skills. Relates director Dugan, "We sent all the guys through fire training; actual facilities, and we had real firemen as part of our fire squad." Real life FDNY firefighter Terry Quinn came onboard as the film’s fire consultant. He flew to Los Angeles to handle the training of the actors, so they could experience how FDNY firefighters fight actual fires and conduct daily station operations. 'Boots' (rookie firefighter) Sandler and James learned the basics of laddering, ventilation and rescue. They also got a taste of engine life, studying up on how to operate the hoses. For James, it was exciting to live out a boyhood fantasy. "Just putting on the gear and riding on the truck gave me such great respect for what these guys do every day," he said. When it came to filming the firehouse where all the guys are based, the crew moved to the 'big apple, New York. The search for the perfect firehouse to use in "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry" led the filmmakers to FDNY’s Engine 280/Ladder 132, built in 1912 and located in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. For the production, the house would be known as Engine 506/Ladder 223. Dugan recalls, "We wanted the firehouse to be organic to the story, so we drove for weeks around Brooklyn before picking this neighborhood." Production designer recalls; "We were excited when we found it, because it had so much history, wear and tear and living. We really wanted to try to capture that in our set." James revealed there's a trick to sliding down a firehouse pole. "They say the secret is to wrap your shirt around your hand. If you just go with your hands and legs, you’re going to burn all the way down." And where did the two guys get 'married'? In Morris Takechi’s 'Two Hearts Wedding Chapel' which the production design team designed to feel like a quickie marriage joint one might find in Niagara Falls. Small and rather tacky. The setting for the AIDS benefit/costume party was St Vibiana church in downtown Los Angeles. The interior of the former old church was redecorated in a crazy rave fashion, with bright colors, loud music, and pulsing lights and sounds emitting from every window or speaker. Finally, here's a little trivia gem I thought I'd throw in. Director Dennis Dugan has had quite a career as an actor. Not only in film but also in television. By a strange twist of fate he appeared in two episodes of "M*A*S*H" including one in 1983 titled, "Strange Bedfellows". He appeared in four films whose titles suggested family themes. They were: "She's Having a Baby" (1988); Parenthood (1989); "Problem Child" (1990) and "Big Daddy" (1999). Synopsis

Chuck Levine and Larry Valentine are the pride of their fire station: two guy's guys always side-by-side and willing to do anything for each other. Salt-of-the-earth widower Larry wants just one thing: to protect his family. His buddy Chuck also wants one thing: to enjoy the single life. Grateful Chuck owes Larry for saving his life in a fire, and Larry calls in that favor big time when civic red tape prevents him from naming his own two kids as his life insurance beneficiaries. All Chuck has to do is claim to be Larry's domestic partner on some city forms. Easy. Nobody will ever know. When an overzealous, spot-checking bureaucrat becomes suspicious, the new couple's arrangement becomes a citywide issue and goes from confidential to front-page news. Forced to improvise as love-struck newlyweds, Chuck and Larry must now fumble through a hilarious charade of domestic bliss living under one roof.

The Verdict "Watch out! If you're into being politically correct (and who isn't as long as the boot isn't on the other foot) then steer clear of Adam Sandler's latest effort, "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry" which takes the piss out of the gay community, homophobic church groups, has racist overtones and tries to disguise it all under a shallow message that preaches all we need is a good dose of tolerance. That aside there are, for the politically incorrect, some very funny moments that will raise plenty of laughs. As as long as your not of asian descent, are not homosexual or a bible bashing homo-hater you'll find this a cut above Paul Hogan's 'queer' film, "Strange Bedfellows" which was pretty tacky and not on the whole as funny. Typically, it's not Sandler who garners the laughs but his co-stars Kevin James as Larry Valentine and the uncredited Rob Schneider who is extremely funny as the Japanese marriage celebrant who hitches the two straight guys up. 3 1/2 STARS." Cast & Crew Bytes "I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK & LARRY" stars .......
Adam Sandler ["Punch-Drunk Love", "Spanglish", "Click" and "Reign Over Me"]; Kevin James ["Monster House", "Barnyard", "50 First Dates" and "Hitch"]; Jessica Biel ["I'll Be Home For Christmas", "Cellular", "Stealth" and "The Illusionist"]; Dan Aykroyd ["Grosse Pointe Blank", "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion", "Bright Young Things" and "50 First Dates"]; Ving Rhames ["Bringing Out the Dead", "Dawn of the Dead" and "Mission: Impossible III"]; Steve Buscemi ["Fargo", "The Big Lebowski", "The Island", "Monster House" and "Charlotte's Web"] and Three time Golden Globe Award winner Richard Chamberlain ["Lady Caroline Lamb", "The Towering Inferno", "The Three Musketeers", "The Last Wave" and "A River Made to Drown In"] as Councilman Banks.
"I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK & LARRY" was .......
directed by Dennis Dugan ["Beverly Hills Ninja", "Big Daddy", "National Security" and "The Benchwarmers"] set decoration by Susan Bode ["Finding Forrrester", "Maid in Manhattan", "Mona Lisa Smile" and "Little Children"]; and Gary Fettis ["The Lost World: Jurassic Park", "We Were Soldier", "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Letters from Iwo Jima"]; costume design by Ellen Lutter ["Little Nicky", "Mr Deeds", "Anger Management" and "Click"]; production design by Perry Andelin Blake ["Billy Madison", "Without a Paddle", "The Benchwarmers" and "Click"]; edited by Jeff Gourson ["Anger Management", "50 First Dates", "The Longest Yard" and "Click"]; cinematography by Academy Award winner Dean Semler ["City Slickers", "We Were Soldiers", "The Longest Yard" and "Click"]; original music by 2005 European Film Award Best Composer Rupert Gregson-Williams ["Thunderpants", "What a Girl Wants", "Hotel Rwanda" and "Click"]; art direction by Alan Aue ["The Wedding Singer", "The Waterboy", "The Longest Yard" and "Click"] and David Swayz ["Munich" and "Spider-Man 3"]. Who's Who?

Adam Sandler Kevin James Cole Morgen Shelby Adamowsky Jessica Biel Dan Aykroyd Ving Rhames Steve Buscemi Nicholas Turturro Allen Covert Rachel Dratch Richard Chamberlain Nick Swardson Blake Clark Mary Pat Gleason Matt Winston Lance Bass Dan Patrick Rob Corddry Robert Smigel Richard Kline Gary Valentine Jonathan Loughran Peter Dante J.D. Donaruma Michael Buscemi Brad Grunberg

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Chuck Levine Larry Valentine Eric Valentine Tori Valentine Alex McDonough Captain Tucker Duncan Clinton Fitzer Renaldo Pinera Steve Benefits Supervisor Councilman Banks Kevin McDonough Crazy Homeless Man Teresa Glen Aldrich Band Leader NY Cop Jim the Protestor Mailman Mr Auerbach Karl Eisendorf David Nootzie Tony Paroni J.D. Higgy Bernie

Run Time 115 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2007 - UPI - All Rights Reserved ©2007 All Rights Reserved - Protected by Australian & International Copyright. Trademark Laws Apply.