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Adam Sandler is a quintessential actor of the 1990s comedy renaissance and has a special place within the hearts of many film fans who grew up with his films. Although projects like Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, Big Daddy, and The Waterboy weren’t necessarily met with critical praise upon their initial release, a certain generation would refer to them as “classics.” While Sandler’s comedies were incredibly popular, he had a dramatic side that many viewers had looked over. Films like Spanglish and Funny People allowed him to incorporate more drama, and with films like Punch-Drunk Love and Reign Over Me, he played things completely seriously.
Ironically, Sandler was only praised for his true skills as a dramatic actor after a period of serious critical decline. Sandler’s projects for Netflix had been met with increasingly scathing reviews, but against all odds, he appeared in the Safdie Brothers’ 2019 crime film Uncut Gems. The film was hailed as a modern classic, and Sandler’s name was widely circulated as a contender for the Academy Award for Best Actor. Although he was sadly snubbed, Sandler did end up getting a nomination from the Screen Actors Guild awards for a similarly serious role in the 2022 basketball drama Hustle.
While it’s nice to see that Sandler is finally getting the respect that he deserves, the praise he has received is a little bit overdue. Prior to his sensational work in Uncut Gems and Hustle, Sandler appeared within director Noah Baumbach’s fascinating family dramedy The Meyerowitz Stories. The film debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017 before hitting Netflix. Not only does it rank among the best movies the streaming service has ever made, but it stands as the crowning achievement of Sandler’s career.
He’s Great at Playing a Caring Father
If there’s anything that even Sandler’s harshest critics can’t deny about him, it’s that he never fails to show love and appreciation for his children. He clearly takes being a father seriously, and often talks about how important it is to spend time with his kids. This is something that is reflected in even his worst films; while Blended and the Grown Up films aren’t particularly funny, Sandler at least feels well cast as a caring dad. In The Meyerowitz Stories, Sandler’s character Danny is raising a teenage daughter Eliza (Grace Van Patten). As a single father, Danny struggles to prepare for Grace’s trip to college to pursue filmmaking. While Sandler charmingly shows how Danny supports his daughter’s passions, he also shows his fear in seeing her move away.
The chemistry between Sandler and Van Patten is just delightful. While there are humorous moments, they feel very realistic; in particular, there’s a hilarious scene where Danny starts screaming at traffic and his daughter has to control his anger. After watching Eliza and Danny share memories, jokes, and traditions together, it feels like there’s an entire history there between them that doesn’t need to be completely spelled out to the audience. Sandler is always generous with younger actors, and Van Patten is a genuine breakout star.
He’s Able to Do Comedy and Drama
Sandler’s performances can go extreme in both directions; he’s heightened to an absurdly comical degree in films like Billy Madison, but he’s completely somber and chilling in Uncut Gems. However, The Meyerowitz Stories allows him to do both. The film explores a dysfunctional Jewish family in a way that is realistic; in real life, there are moments of laughter and tears. The film explores Danny’s relationship with his brother Matthew (Ben Stiller) and his sister Jean (Elizabeth Marvel) as they gather to celebrate an art gallery being commemorated in honor of their father Harold (Dustin Hoffman). While it’s fun to see these adult siblings bicker and argue like children, Sandler shows how Danny’s childhood animosities and regrets have stayed with him.
Sandler does a great job at being vulnerable. Danny is already insecure about Grace’s upcoming departure, and he’s nervous about honoring his father when Harold was absent for large portions of his childhood. He’s also apprehensive about spending time with his siblings, as he feels overshadowed by their success. While sometimes Danny expresses his dissatisfaction in hilariously unusual ways, it feels like the reaction of a real person, and not just a caricature. Sandler knows at what points he can make a joke, and at what points he needs to be completely serious. A moment at the end where Matthew and Danny get into a heated argument and start fighting starts off hilarious, but it becomes very sweet once the two brothers finally open up to each other and apologize for their behavior.
He Fits Within an Ensemble
Even in his movies that have larger casts, Sandler tends to dominate the screen. Some viewers may have forgotten that people like Al Pacino and Katie Holmes even showed up in Jack & Jill because Sandler takes up a majority of the screen time. This was not the case with The Meyerowitz Stories. Sandler is able to be subtle in sequences that focus on the other characters. By lying a little bit lower than usual and not stealing the viewer’s attention, Sandler shows his respect for his fellow actors. This is evident in a particularly powerful scene where Jean admits to Danny and Matthew that she experienced something very traumatic when she was younger. The scene is so powerful because Marvel is allowed to shine, and both Sandler and Stiller are able to stand back and watch.
The film’s balance of perspectives makes the ensemble feel particularly realistic. It’s interesting to see Sandler and Stiller working together on something more mature considering that they’ve appeared in more comedic roles together in the past. They still get to show their great banter during a hilarious sequence when Danny and Matthew have to make a quick getaway that catches Jean by surprise. Sandler also is able to hold his own in scenes with Dustin Hoffman; acting alongside one of the most legendary screen performers ever is no easy task, but together Sandler and Hoffman bring life to a nuanced, yet loving parental relationship.