2021 30 Day Film Challenge-Day 5

​Film that takes place somewhere you want to go​

This was a fun category for me and I ended up picking a comedy movie even though there are so many films that take place in Hawaii. There were also lots of different places I would love to go, but landed on Hawaii since I’ve heard wonderful things about the state.

In terms of things to do in Hawaii, I think I would focus on the history, especially centered around Pearl Harbor. I’m a huge history buff and I’ve always wanted to visit the wreck of the USS Arizona. I would spend as much time there learning and seeing as much as possible in that area.

For the movie (50 First Dates), I actually love this one and have seen it probably two dozen times over the years. It’s one that is on TV quite a bit and you can pick it up anywhere and watch little bits and pieces. There are lots of fun set pieces in the film and the relationship between Adam Sandler’s Henry and Drew Barrymore’s Lucy feels natural and unforced in the way many on-screen relationships do. The twist that Lucy has short term memory loss and cannot create new memories leads to the film’s title. Add in Lucy’s loveable father Marlin (played by longtime Sandler co-star Blake Clark) and brother Doug (Sean Astin) and you have a great cast. On top of that, there is even a Dan Aykroyd cameo for good measure.

The other fun thing about this is that it is the second film starring Sandler and Barrymore, the first being The Wedding Singer. There is a clear chemistry between the two actors so it’s not surprising that they connected on screen more than once. The thing I actually like about both films is that they are not straight love stories where boy meets girl, they fall in love, and eventually get married. They both twist and turn, throwing some unexpected roadblocks in the way of the pairing.
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If you haven’t seen 50 First Dates, do yourself a favor and rent a copy for your next date night. It’s a tidy 99 minutes and will have you laughing, crying, and cheering for true love to prevail.

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