In the special that cuts between small clubs, big arenas, and a subway station, you get the answer to the question, “What has the Sandman been up to lately?” Now, if you didn’t like Adam Sandler at any point, you won’t like him now. He is the same goofy guy he was in the 90’s, only now he’s joking about his children, wife, and the ghost that lives in his house.
Interspersed between bits where he jokes about his familial life, he blesses us with new music. While they will never beat out his classic Hannukah bop, The Hannukah Song, Bar Mitzvah Boy which chronicles the timelessness and awkwardness of a 13-year-old Jewish boy comes close. Better than any of his other songs was the finale that honors the late Chris Farley. He somehow toes the perfect line between funny and emotional. I never thought I wanted to watch Adam Sandler sing about his deep feelings and friendships but honestly I was all about it.
To be bold, it kind of seems like Adam Sandler has grown up (LOL GET IT?) but not in a boring way. His comedy made me miss just mindlessly talking with friends, saying literally whatever popped into my head, laughing at stupid stuff, and singing things you do as you do them. The only way I can put it is that he has perfected senseless word vomit by putting it to music.
In a time when many comedians are going the opposite direction, trying to find humor in politics and tragedy, Adam Sandler steps out and decides to just be funny in empty space, to pull from singular moments or thoughts and drag them out until so they balance the line of relatable and wtf. For an hour and fifteen minutes the audience is suspended in a silly nothingness that they can simply enjoy.
Don’t care what I like? Here are reviews from other people:
My mom: “It was more entertaining than I expected”
My sister: “It was an interesting take on a comedy special”
My boyfriend: *5 minutes in* “I don’t want to watch this.”
My dad: “If I watch it today can I have a quote in this article.”
