I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY

US, 2007, 110 minutes, Colour.
Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Jessica Biel, Dan Aykroyd, Ming Rhames, Steve Buscemi, Nicholas Turturro, Richard Chamberlain.
Directed by Dennis Dugan.

The first challenge of this Adam Sandler comedy is: how do you make a widely acceptable comedy about gay men and about civil partnerships and gay marriages? Actually, an Australian film of 2004, Strange Bedfellows, with Paul Hogan, Michael Caton and Pete Postlethwaite already did it with a plot that is (suspiciously?) similar to this one. Chuck and Larry tries the ‘don’t worry about good taste’ approach which means that at times it is funny, at times it is crass, at times it is offensive and, ultimately, it becomes an appeal for understanding and tolerance.

The situation of two men trying to get social benefits by going through a civil marriage as a gay couple and trying to convince observers that there is no fraud involved (fraud leading to jail), living with the ambiguities and the innuendo, finding difficulty in the workplace has a lot of potential. However, the film begins in what seems a homophobic humour atmosphere but then does a little preaching against prejudice, aggressive language and labelling and bigotry.

The trouble this time is that it seems too aggressive in its humour at first and mocks a lot of the stereotypes and camp behaviour (especially in the musical theatre tendencies of Larry’s son). The other trouble is that the film takes a ‘realistic’ tone at first but then moves into broad comedy, slapstick and farce.

Adam Sandler is Adam Sandler. Kevin James is earnest as Larry. Jessica Biel is pleasant as their lawyer. Ving Rhames is a macho fireman in the closet. Dan Aykroyd is the boss. Richard Chamberlain presides over the hearing. But, as so often happens, Steve Buscemi steals the show with his performance as the unmasker of frauds.

1.21st century American society, world society, issues of homosexuality, official partnerships, gay marriage? A treatment for humour on this theme?

2.The blend of realism, comedy, farce and slapstick with the serious?

3.New York settings, the fire department, apartments, lawyers’ offices, the socials? The trip to Canada? Authentic and real? The musical score, the songs?

4.The impact of the humour? Taste? Dubious? Gay jokes? Explicit? Satire? Stereotypes? Camp? Offensive or not?

5.Issues of homophobia and society? The effect of the film on attitudes, language, names, change, tolerance and understanding? Or not?

6.The introduction to Chuck and Larry, ordinary, the firemen, Larry as the widower, his children, his continued grief for his wife? The work at the fire department? Chuck, relationships, women, the twins? Other women?

7.The firemen’s work, the fires, the farce in the rescue of the fat man? The injuries, hospital? The other members of the brigade? Chief Tucker?

8.The situation for finance, Larry seeking advice, the flirtatious adviser? Marrying? The plan, civil partnerships? The disguise for the ceremony? At home, the children, the mail going to the one house, together, Chuck moving in? The bed, the cooking, the meals? The housekeeper? Tensions, pretence, flirting with the girl across the street, the postman – and his later advances?

9.The issue of fraud, the inspector’s visit, the discussion, Clinton Fitzer and the warning from Alex? Fitzer’s arrival, suspicions, the discussions, the innuendo, searching the garbage …?

10.The visit to Alex, her work, sympathetic, Chuck overdoing it? Her advice? The growing friendship, sharing ideas? Chuck and his attraction, going shopping with her, the dresses, feeling her? Her later reaction? Going to the gay social, the protesters outside, Chuck and his attitude, the fight, the newspaper headlines? Alex’s brother, the dancing?

11.Chief Tucker, knowing the truth, the possibilities of going to jail, his discussions with them, their work, separating them on the different shifts, the petition from the men, Larry going down, talking to the men, reminding them of all that they had done for them? The men going to court, supporting them? Tucker, the court, his speech, their all ending in jail?

12.The lifestyle of Chuck and Larry, fighting, apologies, experiencing discrimination? The men at the basketball, the newspapers, the showers and the soap? The children at school? Parents’ day and Larry’s speech?

13.The children, with Chuck and Larry? Eric and the jokes about gay sensibility, his dancing, the splits, auditions, the musicals? Larry wanting him to watch the baseball? His success in the audition? Larry proud of him?

14.Chuck and the lying to Alex, the revelation in court, the aftermath, Alex’s reservations, Chuck and the truth? In love?

15.The court sequences, Fitzer and his plea, his speeches? Richard Chamberlain as presiding? The men in support of Chuck and Larry? Alex’s brother?

16.Fred G. Duncan, tough, intimidation, the rumour about the axe murder, his coming out, the bond with Chuck and Larry, the singing in the shower, at the court, his marrying?

17.Jail, the bargain, the calendar, going to the fair with the children? Everybody happy together?

18.Did this kind of film work, how to do comedy on such contentious issues?