The Longest Yard

I went to view this film at Sycamore Mall at 9:00pm on May 28 2005 right after the showing of Crash. Given how great Crash happens to be, a film watched right after seeing it is a sure bet to be a let down unless relatively decent.

Adam Sandler, Chris Rock and Burt Reynolds all star in this remake of the 1970's prison/sports film. Adam Sandler plays the role of Paul 'Wrecking' Crewe, an ex pro football star who ends up in prison due to an O.J. Simpson-like freeway chase where he totals his girlfriend's car purposely along with a bunch of cop cars.

In prison, it seems everyone from the warden (played by James Cromwell) to sadistic prison guards have a hankering for some football. The warden wants Sandler's touch to improve the prison guard team to the point of approving him putting together an "easy" competition game between the inmates (handpicked and trained by Sandler and Reynolds) and the guards.

The film is light on the comedy with few laughs and extremely shallow, being at heart just a poorly done get even film without anything redeeming or unique. Without seeing the the original, I have no prior comparison between the two, but the concept did seem like it would have comedic potential. Sadly, this version didn't make it anywhere close.

The film ranking rates an okay due to the lackluster laughs, limp dialogue and limited character studies.

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