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I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry

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I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDennis Dugan
Screenplay by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyDean Semler
Edited byJeff Gourson
Music byRupert Gregson-Williams
Production
companies
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release dates
  • July 12, 2007 (2007-07-12) (Universal City premiere)
  • July 20, 2007 (2007-07-20)
Running time
115 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$85 million[2]
Box office$186.1 million[2]

I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry is a 2007 American comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan. It stars Adam Sandler and Kevin James as the title characters Chuck and Larry, respectively. The film was released in the United States on July 20, 2007. Though the film received negative reviews by critics for its very crude humor and portrayal of gay people, it ranked #1 at the box office.

The film's depiction of same-sex marriage in New York preceded the 2011 enactment of the Marriage Equality Act, which legalized marriage for same-sex couples in the state. At the time of the film's release, the state allowed for residents to file for unregistered cohabitation rights, and various municipal and county governments (including, as shown in-film, New York City) offered domestic partnership registries.

Plot

Chuck Levine, a womanizing bachelor, and Larry Valentine, a widower struggling to raise his two children, are two veteran New York City firefighters. During a routine sweep of a burned building, a segment of floor collapses on Chuck. Larry quickly shields him from the falling debris, saving his life. Later, he and Chuck wake up in a hospital, where Chuck vows to repay Larry in any way possible. This incident serves as a catalyst for Larry's epiphany: death is both inevitable and unpredictable. This prompts him to significantly increase his life insurance policy, but he runs into difficulties naming his children as primary beneficiaries. He is told he should remarry so his new spouse can be the primary beneficiary; however, no one specifies who he has to marry.

Inspired by a newspaper article about domestic partnerships, Larry asks Chuck to enter a civil union with him. Although Chuck declines at first, he is reminded of his debt to Larry and finally agrees, entering a domestic partnership and becoming Larry's primary beneficiary in the event of his death. To their dismay, however, New York City investigators soon arrive to inquire about their abrupt partnership, suspecting fraud. Chuck and Larry decide to enlist the help of lawyer Alex McDonough, who suggests they get married and move in together to prove they're committed; Chuck reluctantly agrees. The pair soon travel to Canada for a quick marriage (so quick that they use a nearby homeless person as the best man) and begin living together.

At a gay benefit costume party, the partygoers are confronted by homophobic protesters, whose leader, a minister named Jim, calls Chuck a "faggot." Chuck punches him, and the incident is picked up by the local news. With their apparent homosexuality and marriage revealed, the pair come under fire. Chuck and Larry are heckled, and their fellow FDNY firefighters refuse to work or even play basketball alongside them. Their only ally is Fred G. Duncan, an angry, intimidating firefighter who comes out to a very surprised Chuck.

Larry's effeminate son, Eric, is harassed in school by a homophobic bully, but he surprises everybody by easily winning a fight with his abuser. During the ordeal, the previously homophobic pair come to understand what it's like to be persecuted and become more accepting of homosexuality.

Chuck becomes romantically interested in Alex after the two spend time together, but finds himself unable to get close to her because she thinks he is gay. Meanwhile, city agent Clinton Fitzer arrives to investigate the couple. The strain on both Larry and Chuck leads to a verbal fight, and the two are assigned to work different shifts. In the meantime, a petition circulates to have Chuck and Larry thrown out of the firehouse. Larry discovers the petition, prompting him to confront the crew about personal embarrassments on the job that Chuck and Larry helped them overcome. After the confrontation, an emergency call comes into the fire station, and as they prepare to address the call, Larry reminds his co-workers that as a result of their harassment, he is no longer on duty. After Larry's shift is over, Chuck and Larry reconcile their differences.

Chuck and Alex's relationship grows as they spend time together, and they soon kiss. The kiss shocks Alex because she still believes Chuck is gay and married, making the interaction unacceptable from her point of view. Chuck tries to explain the situation, and Alex kisses him again but tells him they cannot see each other outside of their lawyer-client relationship. Alex says she believes in marriage and what it represents, and that she has betrayed both him and Larry. Chuck tries to explain but is unable to reveal the truth. Alex tells him to go, and he has no choice but to do so. Soon after, Fitzer learns from Larry's children that Chuck has been spending time with Alex, whom he frequently talks about whenever Larry is not around. Fitzer appears shocked by this revelation.

Larry learns about the kiss and confronts Chuck about the amount of time he spends with Alex, asserting that Chuck's absence is jeopardizing their ability to maintain the ruse of their relationship. Soon, Chuck and Larry begin to argue. Chuck is infuriated that he must live a lie to fulfill his promise to Larry, especially because it prevents him from having the intimacy he wants with Alex. Hurt, Larry asks why Chuck could not have fun with him. Chuck accuses Larry of changing since they married and of not acting like a husband, and says Chuck feels like he is unable to breathe. Larry tries to reason with Chuck, saying he feels that way only because he is afraid of being trapped by the marriage. Chuck aggressively reminds Larry that their marriage is a sham and declares it a nightmare. Larry disparages Chuck's ability to commit to anything and his willingness to try to make the marriage work. Chuck then tells Larry to face the fact that they are not supposed to be together and that Larry needs to find a real relationship instead of being jealous about Chuck's relationship with Alex. In response, Larry reveals that he is still in love with his deceased wife, Paula, to which Chuck responds that it's time for Larry to move on for the sake of his kids. Despite the severity of the argument, Larry and Chuck soon reconcile their differences again.

The marriage soon comes under fire as numerous women publicly testify to having slept with Chuck in the recent past, and the couple is called into court to defend their marriage against charges of fraud. They are defended by Alex, and their fellow firefighters arrive in support, having realized all that Chuck and Larry have done for them over the years. Fitzer interrogates both men, who testify that they genuinely love each other (albeit in a platonic fashion). As his final demand, Fitzer asks the pair to kiss to prove that their relationship is physical. Before they do so, Chuck and Larry are interrupted by FDNY Captain Phineas J. Tucker, who finally reveals that their marriage is a sham and that they are both straight. Tucker tries to save Chuck and Larry by saying he will have to be arrested as well, since he knew about the falsity but failed to report it. This prompts each of the other firefighters to claim a role in the wedding in a show of solidarity. Chuck, Larry, and the other firefighters are sent to jail, but they are quickly released after negotiating a deal to provide photos for an AIDS research benefit calendar. The deal includes pleading guilty to fraud, which reduces the charges to a misdemeanor. Chuck and Larry keep their benefits.

Two months later, Duncan and Alex's brother, Kevin, are married in Canada at the same chapel as Chuck and Larry. At the wedding party, Larry finally moves on from the death of his wife and talks to a new woman, while Alex tentatively agrees to a dance with Chuck. The film ends with Lance Bass singing and little Eric tap-dancing.

Cast

Production

Producer Tom Shadyac had planned this film as early as 1999. I Now Pronounce You Joe and Benny, as the film was then titled, was announced as starring Nicolas Cage and Will Smith with Shadyac directing. In the official trailer, the song "Grace Kelly" by British pop star, Mika, was included.[3]

Release

Critical response

On the film review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 14% approval rating from 154 reviews; the consensus states: "Whether by way of inept comedy or tasteless stereotypes, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry falters on both levels."[4]

USA Today called it "a movie that gives marriage, homosexuality, friendship, firefighters, children and nearly everything else a bad name."[5] The Wall St Journal calls it "an insult to gays, straights, men, women, children, African-Americans, Asians, pastors, mailmen, insurance adjusters, firemen, doctors -- and fans of show music."[6]

The New York Post called it not an insult to homosexuality but to comedy itself.[7] The Miami Herald was slightly less critical, calling the film "funny in the juvenile, crass way we expect."[8]

Nathan Lee from the Village Voice wrote a positive review, praising the film for being "tremendously savvy in its stupid way" and "as eloquent as Brokeback Mountain, and even more radical."[9] Controversial critic Armond White championed the film as "a modern classic" for its "ultimate moral lesson—that sexuality has absolutely nothing to do with who Chuck and Larry are as people".[10]

Box office

Despite a generally negative critical reception, Chuck & Larry grossed $34,233,750 and ranked #1 at the domestic box office in its opening weekend, higher than the other opening wide release that weekend, Hairspray, and the previous weekend's #1 film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.[11] By the end of its run, the film had grossed $120,059,556 domestically and $66,012,658 internationally for a worldwide total of $186,072,214.[2]

Accolades

The film received eight Golden Raspberry Award nominations including Worst Picture, Worst Actor (Adam Sandler), Worst Supporting Actor (both Kevin James and Rob Schneider), Worst Supporting Actress (Jessica Biel), Worst Director (Dennis Dugan), Worst Screenplay and Worst Screen Couple (Adam Sandler with either Kevin James or Jessica Biel), but failed to win any.

Response from social groups

The film was screened prior to release for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). GLAAD representative Damon Romine told Entertainment Weekly magazine: "The movie has some of the expected stereotypes, but in its own disarming way, it's a call for equality and respect".[12]

Controversy

According to Alexander Payne, the writer of an initial draft of the film, Sandler took many liberties with his screenplay, "Sandler-izing" the film, in his own words. At some point, he did not want his name attached to the project.[citation needed]

Critics have also said the character played by Rob Schneider is a racist caricature and he was also criticized for donning Yellowface.[13]

In November 2007, the producers of the Australian film Strange Bedfellows initiated legal action against Universal Studios for copyright violation.[14] The suit was withdrawn in April 2008 after the producers of Strange Bedfellows received an early draft of Chuck & Larry that predated their film, and they were satisfied that they had not been plagiarized.[15]

References

  1. ^ "I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK & LARRY (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. July 24, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  3. ^ "I, Nicolas Cage, take thee, Will Smith". The Advocate. May 25, 1999. p. 22. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
  4. ^ "I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry (2007)". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved August 2, 2009.
  5. ^ Puig, Claudia (July 20, 2007). "'Chuck and Larry': It's a marriage of bad taste, bad gags". USA Today. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
  6. ^ Kaufman, Joanne (July 20, 2007). "'Hairspray' Is Campy Fun, but Travolta Is a Drag". Wall St Journal. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
  7. ^ Smith, Kyle (July 20, 2007). "'laughless comedy isn't a gay time'". New York Post. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
  8. ^ "'Chuck & Larry'". The Miami Herald. Retrieved August 1, 2010. [dead link‍]
  9. ^ "'Queer as Folk'". The Village Voice. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
  10. ^ "'Bossom Budies'". New York Press. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  11. ^ "Weekend Box Office Results for July 20-22, 2007". Box Office Mojo. Amazon.com. July 23, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  12. ^ "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry". Entertainment Weekly. July 20, 2007. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
  13. ^ afterelton.com Review of "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry"
  14. ^ Filmmakers take on Hollywood over comedy 'copy' - Film - Entertainment
  15. ^ "Strange fluke, not plagiarism - Film - Entertainment". Sydney Morning Herald. April 6, 2008. Retrieved March 25, 2011.

See also

Wikiquote has quotations related to I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.
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