50 First Dates is a 2004 romantic comedy starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore and directed by Peter Segal.
Plot
Henry Roth (Adam Sandler), a womanising marine-life veterinarian living in Hawaii, meets Lucy Whitmore (Drew Barrymore), an art teacher, in a café one morning. They hit it off and agree to meet in the café the next morning. The following day, however, Lucy claims not to know Henry. The café owner pulls Henry aside and explains that Lucy suffers from anterograde amnesia (called 'Goldfield Syndrome' in the movie) as a result of a car accident she was in a year earlier. Her condition has left her with no memory of anything between the day of the accident and the present, because she is incapable of converting short-term memories into long-term memories. At the beginning of each day, she loses all memory of the past day. She innocently believes every day to be October 13, 2002. Her father, Marlin (Blake Clarke), and brother, Doug (Sean Astin), attempt to re-enact the activities of October 13, her father's birthday, every day, to prevent her from suffering from learning about the accident.
Realizing that he is beginning to fall in love with Lucy, Henry sheds his philandering ways and begins devising new ways to ‘meet’ her again every day, hoping that one day she will retain her memories - and feelings - for him. Henry and Lucy’s family eventually realize that they can’t lie to her about what has happened forever, and so instead begin to leave video tapes for her to watch each morning, explaining her situation and relationship with Henry. Over time, Lucy begins to reciprocate Henry’s feelings, even going so far as to accept his marriage proposal. One morning, however, she overhears Henry telling Marlin that he has canceled his plans to sail to the Arctic on a research expedition - something he had been planning and saving money for 10 years - in order to be with Lucy. Not wanting to be the person to hold him back, she ends the relationship and commits herself to a specialist unit in hospital, allowing herself to forget all about Henry. A heartbroken Henry, meanwhile, finally saves the money needed to begin his trip, and, after a farewell from Marlin and Doug, sets sail. Shortly after departing he realizes that Marlin had hinted that Lucy had indeed remembered Henry, and he rushes back to the hospital to see her. Upon seeing him again, Lucy explains that she still doesn’t know who Henry is, but that she has somehow remembered his face and she had a dream with him in it, as evidenced by the many paintings and pictures she has produced of him whilst in hospital. Knowing that this is proof of the love she has for him, and he for her, the couple reunite.
Several years later Lucy wakes up in a strange bed with a video tape on the night stand next to her, reading "Good Morning, Lucy". She watches it, and cries as she relives her accident while the tape explains everything that has happened, including scenes from Henry and Lucy's wedding. She then looks out the window and is shocked to find out that she's on a boat in the Arctic. She comes out onto the deck of the boat to be greeted by Henry as well as her father and her young daughter sailing on Henry's ship, his dream finally fulfilled.
Cast
Reception
Critical response to the movie was decidedly mixed. Those major critics who enjoyed the film (such as New York Times reviewer A.O. Scott) praised the uplifting story while lamenting the seemingly excessive and incongruous amount of crude humor and drug references. Roger Ebert, who is particularly well-known for disliking most Adam Sandler/Rob Schneider movies, gave it three out of four stars, saying "The movie is sort of an experiment for Sandler. He reveals the warm side of his personality, and leaves behind the hostility, anger and gross-out humor... The movie doesn't have the complexity and depth of Groundhog Day... but as entertainment it's ingratiating and lovable."
Sandler and Barrymore won the award for Best On-Screen Team at the MTV Movie Awards. The two actors, who had previously worked together in the popular film The Wedding Singer, are said to regard 50 First Dates as one of their favorite personal efforts. It was also released exactly six years after 'The Wedding Singer'.
Overtaken by events
One notable coincidence of Henry's first video is when the screen says "Red Sox Win World Series" and then follows with "Just Kidding." This is a reference to the 2003 American League Championship Series, as the film was released in February 2004. Later in that year, however, the Boston Red Sox would indeed win the World Series for the first time since 1918. Coincidentally, Barrymore's next film would be Fever Pitch, which co-stars Jimmy Fallon as an obsessed Boston Red Sox fan and which takes place during the 2004 championship baseball season.
Connections to other films
During the golfing scene the children swing like Happy Gilmore, a character in one of Adam Sandler's previous movies. Sandler also makes a side comment that the swing "looks ridiculous".
Dan Aykroyd's character in the film mentions that the short-term memory loss facility is sponsored by T.B. Callahan Auto of Sandusky, Ohio. The T.B. most likely stands for Tommy Boy. Callahan Auto was the main focus in Tommy Boy, a film that starred Chris Farley and David Spade. This was most likely put in as a tribute to Farley, as Sandler was a good friend of his. Aykroyd also played the part of Ray Zalinsky, the self proclaimed "Auto Parts King". Ray attempts a takeover of Callahan Auto.
Dan Aykroyd's character, Dr. Keats, has the same name of Damon Wayans's character in Adam Sandler's movie Bulletproof.
At one point in the movie Lucy's condition is described as her "slate being wiped clean every morning" - a possible reference to the film Clean Slate with Dana Carvey, an SNL alumnus like Sandler, whose character has the same condition as Lucy.
Locations
Most of the film was shot on location in Kaneohe, Kaaawa, Wahiawa, Makapu'u, and Waimanalo, O'ahu, as well as in Kaneohe Bay. The walrus tank is actually in Vallejo, California's Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, and the golf course is in Los Angeles, California. Real-life sea lion trainer Michael Osborn appears in the film as himself. The boat "Sea Serpent" was a 51' Formosa; a family owns it and lives aboard. The boat's real name is Viking Spirit and it remains on Oahu.
Medical reality
BMJ magazine states that 50 First Dates "maintains a venerable movie tradition of portraying an amnesic syndrome that bears no relation to any known neurological or psychiatric condition".[1] According to Cosmopolitan magazine, although people really do lose their memories, memory failure is uncommon, and when it does occur, far more mundane. "In the movies, amnesia is shown in a very sensationalistic way," says Lawson Bernstein, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "But those portrayals don't have much basis in fact." Whereas complete anmesia (the wiping out of a lifetime of stored memories), is almost unheard of, Dr. Bernstein says. The daily memory loss Lucy experiences is pure fiction. The closest thing to this memory loss is Alzheimer's.[2]
A representative of the Memory Disorders Project at Rutgers University states the film combines two real memory loss syndromes, Psychogenic Amnesia (Traumatic Amnesia) and Organic Amnesia. The case in the movie is also similar to Limited Retrograde Amnesia. But in the movie, Barrymore is told by her neurologist, played by Dan Aykroyd, she suffers from “Goldfield’s Syndrome”. Goldfield’s Syndrome does not exist.[3]
Soundtrack
The soundtrack contains cover versions of songs that were originally recorded in the 1980s. This includes mostly reggae or ska covers, due to their emphasized upbeat that gives a tropical or Hawaiian feel. It was a moderate commercial hit, reaching #30 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top Soundtracks and Top Reggae Albums in the United States.
- Wayne Wonder — "Hold Me Now" (Originally recorded by the Thompson Twins) - 4:12
- 311 — "Lovesong" (Originally written and recorded by The Cure) - 3:28
- Seal featuring Mikey Dread — "Lips Like Sugar" (Originally recorded by Echo & the Bunnymen) - 5:00
- Wyclef Jean featuring Eve — "Your Love (L.O.V.E. Reggae Mix)" (Originally recorded by The Outfield) - 4:13
- Ziggy Marley — "Drive" (Originally recorded by The Cars) - 4:26
- will.i.am & Fergie — "True" (Originally recorded by Spandau Ballet) - 4:24
- Elan Atias (backing vocals by Gwen Stefani) — "Slave to Love" (Originally recorded by Bryan Ferry) - 3:55
- UB40 — "Every Breath You Take"(Originally recorded by The Police) - 3:55
- Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray — "The Ghost in You" (Originally recorded by the Psychedelic Furs) - 3:01
- Dryden Mitchell — "Friday I'm in Love" (Originally recorded by The Cure) - 3:21
- Nicole Kea (Nicole Scherzinger) — "Breakfast in Bed" (Originally recorded by Dusty Springfield/UB40) - 3:36
- Jason Mraz — "I Melt With You" (Originally recorded by Modern English) - 3:36
- Adam Sandler — "Forgetful Lucy" - 1:51
Songs in the film
- The Maile Serenaders — "My Sweet Sweet"
- Nicole Kea — "Breakfast in Bed" (Originally recorded by Dusty Springfield/UB40)
- The Ventures — "Hawaii Five-O"
- Harve Presnell — "They Call the Wind Mariah"
- Bob Marley & The Wailers — "Could You Be Loved"
- Manfred Mann — "Blinded by the Light"
- Toots & the Maytals — "Pressure Drop"
- Wayne Wonder — "Hold Me Now" (Originally recorded by the Thompson Twins)
- 311 — "Rub A Dub"
- O-Shen — "Throw Away The Gun"
- Elan Atias (backing vocals by Gwen Stefani) — "Slave To Love" (Originally recorded by Roxy Music)
- Leon Redbone & Ringo Starr — "My Little Grass Shack In Kealakekua, Hawaii"
- The Flaming Lips — "Do You Realize??"
- Paul McCartney & Linda McCartney — "Another Day"
- 311 — "Amber"
- No Doubt — "Underneath It All"
- Jason Mraz — "I Melt with You" (Originally recorded by Modern English)
- The English Beat — "Hands Off She's Mine"
- Seal (featuring Mikey Dread) — "Lips Like Sugar" (Originally recorded by Echo & the Bunnymen)
- Dryden Mitchell — "Friday I'm in Love" (Originally recorded by The Cure)
- The Beach Boys — "Wouldn't It Be Nice"
- Adam Sandler and Rob Schneider — "Ula's Luau Song"
- Wyclef Jean (featuring Eve) — "Your Love (L.O.V.E. Reggae Mix)" (Originally recorded by The Outfield)
- Wyclef Jean — "Baby"
- Adam Sandler — "Forgetful Lucy"
- Ziggy Marley — "Drive" (Originally recorded by The Cars)
- Israel Kamakawiwo'ole — "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (Originally recorded by Judy Garland)
- UB40 — "Every Breath You Take" (Originally recorded by Sting and The Police)
- 311 — "Love Song" (Originally recorded by The Cure)
- Mark McGrath (of Sugar Ray) — "The Ghost in You" (Originally recorded by the Psychedelic Furs)
- Bob Marley & the Wailers — "Is This Love"
- Will.I.Am & Fergie Ferg — "True" (Originally recorded by Spandau Ballet)
- The Makaha Sons of Ni'Ihau — "Aloha Ka Manini"
- Snoop Dogg — "From tha Chuuuch to da Palace"
- The Cure — "Boys Don't Cry"
See also
References
External links
