I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry

I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry written by Academy Award winning writers Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor along with Barry Fanaro, is one of the smartest, and tender comedies of the year. The film stars comedy superstars Adam Sandler and Kevin James as two NYC firefighters, Chuck Levine and Larry Valentine who pretend to be a gay couple in order to get domestic partnership benefits for Larry's children who has recently lost their mother. When the partnership is questioned by City Official Clinton Fitzer played by another comedic icon, Steve Buscemi, they turn to the beautiful intelligent lawyer, Alex played by the sexy Jessica Biel.

The film brings forth some laughs but all in all the film soars on dramatic level which I believe Payne and Taylor weren't exactly aiming for. Sandler still struggles as a dramatic actor and finds it hard to find his inner characters without bringing himself out. We are still waiting for him to return to form as he did in Paul Thomas Anderson's Punch-Drunk Love. James however, is quite an actor who shows the most vulnerable parts of Larry without going over the top. We enjoy Larry's company and look forward to his story unraveling. Kevin James will have an easier transition into more affluent and demanding roles as an actor than Sandler has.

You also have your usual suspects in the Sandler films like the unrecognizable Rob Schnieder and you'll find some comfort in Dan Aykroyd who has been missed from the screen for some time and Ving Rhames who is always as funny as he is intimidating. But don't look for a revolutionary story to befall in front of you, it's a good watch, not a great one.

The film drags on a bit and no stand outs that scream recognition. It's a new addition to good popcorn flicks of 2007.

Grade: **½/****