I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (PG-13)

Typical Sandler comedy overflows with stereotypes.

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Common Sense rates it
2
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Movie details
  • Studio: Universal Studios, Universal Studios
  • Directed By: Dennis Dugan
  • Cast: Jessica Biel, Adam Sandler, Kevin James
  • Running Time: 115 minutes
  • Release Date: 07/19/2007
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 11/06/2007
  • Genre: Comedy
  • MPAA Rating: PG-13
  • MPAA Explanation: crude sexual content throughout, nudity, language and drug references.

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie was originally rated R and had to be resubmitted to earn its PG-13 rating. As with many Sandler movies, the jokes make fun of people -- in this case, mostly homosexuals and the obese. It's 90 percent lowbrow shenanigans and 10 percent heart, with an oversimplified message that discrimination is bad and tolerance is good. (Also good: best friends who would do anything for each other.) Expect raunchy setups (Sandler plays a womanizing, "hot" fireman who can apparently bed five women at once), tired stereotypes (the firefighters look horrified when they accidentally drop the soap in a butt-baring shower scene), and strong language ("s--t," "dick," etc.). Even if tweens and younger teens are Sandler fans, they may be too young to separate the juvenile jokes from the underlying do-good message.

Families can talk about the issues raised by the film -- particularly discrimination. Why do Chuck and Larry's firefighter friends start treating them differently once they're outed as a couple? What do Chuck and Larry learn about homophobia? Do the stereotypes in the movie (about gay people, overweight people, and Asians) detract from its intended message? Is it OK to use hate words in comedies? What would you have done differently if you were making this movie?

Message

Social Behavior:

Many, many gay and fat jokes. Before Chuck realizes firsthand how homosexuals are discriminated against, he's the first to say hateful words about homosexuality; later he changes his tune -- as do the rest of the firefighters. But there's no redeeming the movie's painful Asian stereotypes, which take the form of a Canadian wedding chapel owner (it's obviously Rob Schneider dressed as an East Asian man).

Consumerism:

Trojan condoms; FDNY (Fire Department of New York)

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Chuck shows an obviously stoned store employee the marijuana joint that started a fire; Chuck and another character drink wine; partygoers drink.

Violence

Chuck punches a protesting minister who calls him a "faggot."

Sex

Chuck is known as a womanizer; he has five lingerie-clad girlfriends spending the night. He makes twin sisters kiss each other (off screen -- viewers see the firefighters' reactions). A woman discusses how "freaky" she can get in bed. Firefighters' bare buttocks are visible in a fairly long shower scene. Many jokes about all the "hot gay sex" Chuck and Larry are having while they're pretending to be a couple. Chuck receives pornographic material (a blow-up doll, brown paper packages marked "explicit," Trojan XL condoms case, etc.) in the mail. A calendar shows hetero men in homosexual poses.

Language

Homosexual hate words like "faggot" and "fag" are used for the first half of the movie; later, a character explains why it's insensitive to use those words. Other curse words include "ass," "a--hole," "s--t," "bitch," "whore," "dick," "fatboy," etc.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Sandie Angulo Chen

The setup of NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY is simple: pudgy firefighter Larry (Kevin James) is a widower whose New York City fire department benefits can no longer be changed to make his children his beneficiaries -- unless he remarries. Enter Chuck , a loud, offensive, womanizing firefighter. After Larry saves Chuck's life during a fire, Chuck tells Larry he owes him "anything" he wants. What Larry wants is a fake domestic partnership so the kids will be taken care of ... so, naturally, Chuck and Larry have to pretend to be gay life partners. At first, the charade is low-key -- a civil ceremony at a courthouse and a few weeks of Chuck's mail forwarded to Larry's address. But the pals have to really let their rainbow flags fly when the benefits department sends an intrusive auditor (Steve Buscemi) to find out whether they're trying to defraud the government. Enter gay-friendly defense attorney Alex (the lovely Jessica Biel), who believes her new clients, even though Chuck can't keep his bedroom eyes off of her. To kick up the facade a notch, the couple endures getting outed, literal "don't drop the soap" jokes in the firehouse shower, a ridiculous marriage ceremony in Canada, and their first taste of discrimination. All of a sudden, they realize how insensitive they've been in the past.

Is it any good?

2
Adam Sandler is a comedian who occasionally astonishes audiences with his range (Punch-Drunk Love) and sincerity (The Wedding Singer). But, for the most part, he makes his living playing and acting the crass fool and this “comedy” is not one of the exceptions in the Sandler filmography. Even the addition of lovable everyman Larry Valentine, the Chuck factor dominates the movie.

For of all the movie's borderline -- and outright -- offensive laughs, there's a well-intentioned message of tolerance, diversity, and so on. Under so many layers of tired humor, the tiny kernel of wisdom easily gets lost, and its message about tolerance apparently doesn't extend to the obese (who are cheaply made fun of in the majority of Sandler's movies) and East Asians, who will no doubt cringe at the horrifying sight of Rob Schneider -- one of the many Saturday Night Live vets to cameo -- playing the Asian wedding officiant. With his bowl cut, buck teeth, and thick glasses (not to mention the awful accent) Schneider is the worst caricature of an Asian man in nearly half a century. On the bright side, at least there's a hilarious moment when a hitherto scary Ving Rhames starts belting out a Diana Ross tune in the shower. That alone was worth one star.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 35 reviews.

5


Posted on 07/02/08 by fgaddt Kid contributor, age 10

I love it!

There are to many people out there who just love critizizing Adam Sandler! Don't get me wrong in past movies like i said he has been halarious but there's been no point (as in Click.) However I really liked this because it was halarious but also because it had a great message. It was that watever race we are that has nothing to do as who we are as people. Not only that but it shows that friends will do anything for each other, even if it means being made fun of because you're gay. What's a homo? If you know the answer to that question then you must see Chuck and Larry!
3


Posted on 06/08/08 by yayne Kid contributor, age 14

different from person to person

alright, as a teenager myself, i find that this movie might need to get a higher rating for the sexual themes in it. it should either be rated R for the nudity and the lack of clothing in scenes, or try to cover up a few things in some scenes. but it depends on who's watching it to what its supposed to be rated. parents wouldn't like it because it implies that this kid is gay, and that it uses a lot of language. but teens like myself find it funny because we understand what they are referencing in the jokes. but preteens shouldn't watch because they wouldn't understand half of what they are saying. so... it depends on who's watching it on what it should be rated.
Age 17+
3


Posted on 03/23/08 by Chris LP Adult contributor

3


Posted on 12/23/07 by directerdude123 Kid contributor, age 13

ummmmmmmm?

Well this movie is really not very good for kids because kids under 13 would most likly not understand the humer that it has in it. This makes fun of gays and also has lots of other sterio types. I think it would be ok for kids 15+
Age 2+
0


Posted on 11/28/07 by vclarc Adult contributor

Age 17+
0


Posted on 11/25/07 by dmom Adult contributor

Disgusting garbage

This is one of the most offensive pieces of garbage I have ever had the unfortunate bad luck to encounter. Sandler treats women as if they are sub-human, only good for sex. If you are over weight you are disgusting and have no worth. If you are homosexual, you should be ridiculed and shunned, no value to society. Whoever wrote this should be ejected from the planet. There is nothing worthwhile what so ever in this pathetic excuse for a movie.
Age 17+
1

Posted on 11/22/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

So stupid

The amount of sexual content made me very uncomfortable. There was some male nudity, which was strange, but not really sexual. There were several half naked women wearing skimpy lingerie. While this wouldn't normally be a big deal, they really lingered for an uncomfortable amount of time. As a woman, I don't want to stare at another woman's body. As a wife, I certainly don't feel comfortable with my husband staring either. There wasn't much else going on during those parts, it just really focused on their bodies. I certainly wouldn't let my son watch it even if he were 13.
Age 17+
3

Posted on 11/17/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Adults ONLY!!

DEFINITELY not a movie for children. ADULT movie.
Age 13+
4


Posted on 11/17/07 by gitters Adult contributor

holly cow, man did I laugh

Chuck and Larry is about two firemen who pose as a homosexual couple, to gain benefits so their kids could be taken care of if something happens to them. Much of the humor is what you would expect, from what subject of the movie. I feel the PG-13 rating is right on.
0

Posted on 11/17/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 13

horrible

no one sould see the movie

See all 35 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 18 reviews.

Age 17+
3


Posted on 03/23/08 by Chris LP Adult contributor

Age 2+
0


Posted on 11/28/07 by vclarc Adult contributor

Age 17+
0


Posted on 11/25/07 by dmom Adult contributor

Disgusting garbage

This is one of the most offensive pieces of garbage I have ever had the unfortunate bad luck to encounter. Sandler treats women as if they are sub-human, only good for sex. If you are over weight you are disgusting and have no worth. If you are homosexual, you should be ridiculed and shunned, no value to society. Whoever wrote this should be ejected from the planet. There is nothing worthwhile what so ever in this pathetic excuse for a movie.
Age 17+
1

Posted on 11/22/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

So stupid

The amount of sexual content made me very uncomfortable. There was some male nudity, which was strange, but not really sexual. There were several half naked women wearing skimpy lingerie. While this wouldn't normally be a big deal, they really lingered for an uncomfortable amount of time. As a woman, I don't want to stare at another woman's body. As a wife, I certainly don't feel comfortable with my husband staring either. There wasn't much else going on during those parts, it just really focused on their bodies. I certainly wouldn't let my son watch it even if he were 13.
Age 17+
3

Posted on 11/17/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Adults ONLY!!

DEFINITELY not a movie for children. ADULT movie.
Age 13+
4


Posted on 11/17/07 by gitters Adult contributor

holly cow, man did I laugh

Chuck and Larry is about two firemen who pose as a homosexual couple, to gain benefits so their kids could be taken care of if something happens to them. Much of the humor is what you would expect, from what subject of the movie. I feel the PG-13 rating is right on.
Age 17+
2

Posted on 11/12/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Unwatchable except for Biel

I think this movie is entirely inappropriate for all ages. While ostensibly having a positive social message (tolerance for homosexuals), it glorifies all manner of dysfunctional hetero and homosexual behavior while essentially saying that the means justify the ends. Plus it is not funny.
Age 17+
0

Posted on 10/21/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Typical Sandler

Ok how many "screaming idiot loser who gets the girl in the end and no matter what you do wrong in life it's ok in the end because you were sorry and we'll let you off the hook" Adam Sandler movies can we really have in this lifetime? ALL HIS MOVIES ARE THE SAME. All of them, with slight variations in each one. There's a reason why people identify with "Happy Madison," the names of his movies are just about the only thing that set them all apart. The REAL message of this movie is lie, cheat, and steal, and in the end as long as you're sorry, then it doesn't really matter what you tried to get away with, whom you tried to rip off, etc. Typical Adam Sandler storyline, textbook Hollywood-isms. Two enthusiastic thumbs DOWN -not a good moral to teach kids.
Age 17+
0

Posted on 10/05/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

I never knew Adam Sandler was a misogynist

I took my 13 year old daughter and her friend to this movie, having no idea how poorly women were represented. Every woman in the movie is a protrayed as sex slaves, unable to control themselves around Adam Sandler, even the 60 year old Russian babysitter, his doctor, and eventually his attorney. I was particularly disturbed by the way the professional women were depicted. It's great to see women role models such as Doctors and Attorneys, but in the end they were just as slutty as all the other women in the movie. I was disappointed that your website made no mention of the treatment of women in this movie. Instead, it focused soley on the treatment of homosexuals and obese people. It appears that the woman's perspective is lacking in your reviews.
Age 17+
1


Posted on 09/22/07 by wijopa Adult contributor

Offensive Gay Pandering

Took my wife and 13 y.o. daughter to see this movie. Two complaints. First, the sex scenes, such as Adam Sandler's breast fondling and the babes in the bedroom, are not appropriate for a 13 y.o. I got no problem with that in an R rated movie, but not PG-13. I would never have taken my daughter to see this movie had I known. Second, the moralizing about gay tolerance at the end was pure pandering to get the rating changed from R to PG-13. Guess you can have all the "faggot" jokes and gay stereotypes you want as long as you redeem yourself in the end. Too transparent. I think many gays will be offended by that.
See all 18 adult reviews>

Kids Reviews

There are 17 reviews.

5


Posted on 07/02/08 by fgaddt Kid contributor, age 10

I love it!

There are to many people out there who just love critizizing Adam Sandler! Don't get me wrong in past movies like i said he has been halarious but there's been no point (as in Click.) However I really liked this because it was halarious but also because it had a great message. It was that watever race we are that has nothing to do as who we are as people. Not only that but it shows that friends will do anything for each other, even if it means being made fun of because you're gay. What's a homo? If you know the answer to that question then you must see Chuck and Larry!
3


Posted on 06/08/08 by yayne Kid contributor, age 14

different from person to person

alright, as a teenager myself, i find that this movie might need to get a higher rating for the sexual themes in it. it should either be rated R for the nudity and the lack of clothing in scenes, or try to cover up a few things in some scenes. but it depends on who's watching it to what its supposed to be rated. parents wouldn't like it because it implies that this kid is gay, and that it uses a lot of language. but teens like myself find it funny because we understand what they are referencing in the jokes. but preteens shouldn't watch because they wouldn't understand half of what they are saying. so... it depends on who's watching it on what it should be rated.
3


Posted on 12/23/07 by directerdude123 Kid contributor, age 13

ummmmmmmm?

Well this movie is really not very good for kids because kids under 13 would most likly not understand the humer that it has in it. This makes fun of gays and also has lots of other sterio types. I think it would be ok for kids 15+
0

Posted on 11/17/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 13

horrible

no one sould see the movie
4


Posted on 09/16/07 by Coolchris330 Kid contributor, age 11

Funny Funny Funny

Adam Sandler is one of the funniest men ever, in this movie he plays the role of a man who's life is saved by another man in the same job (Firefighter), in return he pretends to be gay and marrys Larry, leading to hilarious consequences Parents should be aware that this film is full of sexual humor and is not suitable for everybody, there is a lot of explict language in there and there is a scene of non-explict nudity. Most people have a bad mouth throughout this film. Chuck also receives several packages marked "explict" and other sexual items. There is also a scene where to woman (sisters) are going to kiss each other.
5

Posted on 08/25/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 11

awsome

go see this movie with the whole family
4


Posted on 08/17/07 by jennykraige7 Kid contributor, age 14

awesomely funny

Iffy parts I found I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry to be very funny. As far as the stereotypes, I do agree that there was a message to making fun of the gays and lesbians which is nice but we were learning nothing by having them stereotype a bunch of other people. I also believe the Biel/Sandler feely touchy scene was unnecessary and not really funny. I was watching this with my mom and didn't feel uncomfortable but I also didn't find it so hilarious or realistic (not saying it wouldn't happen but usually won't). good Now I mentioned that there is a point to making fun of gays and lesbians, and I suppose also to Sandler being a womanizer because he learns that that is not real happiness, that although fun when true love comes along fun doesn't even compare. It teaches us to be tolerant, as I'm sure we've already heard, and to add to that, unlike many, I found it to be incredibly hilarious, more than having a meaning I believe this movie was meant to be comedic, which it was, but not oh so completely stupid that it was pointless like Epic Movie, which although (very) funny had nothing else to it. There are other lessons which you can read about briefly in the csm review.
4


Posted on 08/06/07 by johnmcclane Kid contributor, age 16

I thought it was funny, and it's one of my favourite Adam Sandler comedies so dar. If you do let your kids watch it, expect jokes about prostitution, homosexuality, fat jokes and a blow up doll which happens to be a sex object. Other than that have fun and enjoy if you do watch it.
5


Posted on 08/04/07 by izzystar100 Kid contributor, age 11

it wasoo funny i cried!!

i now pronounce you chuck and larry is a great movie for kids 10 and upon my behaf i am a very mature 11 year old and i got the movie however my little brother didnt. you laugh in this movie which is good the message is hard2 find but findable it is a good movie you should wach but again know your kids!!
4


Posted on 08/02/07 by ilovethemall Kid contributor, age 12

This movie was good, and it was funny in parts, but it wasn't as funny as i thought it would be!
See all 17 kids reviews >
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