Today’s Prayer Focus
MOVIE REVIEW

Jack and Jill

MPA Rating: PG-Rating (MPA) for crude material including suggestive references, language and comic violence.

Reviewed by: Alexander Malsan
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating: Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Adults Teens Family
Genre: Comedy
Length: 1 hr. 31 min.
Year of Release: 2011
USA Release: November 11, 2011 (wide—3,000+ theaters)
DVD: March 6, 2012
Copyright, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Picturesclick photos to ENLARGE Copyright, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Pictures Copyright, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Pictures Copyright, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Pictures Copyright, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Pictures Copyright, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Pictures Copyright, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Pictures Copyright, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Pictures Copyright, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Pictures
Relevant Issues
Copyright, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Pictures

very poor brother sister relationship

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY—Why do Americans celebrate it? Answer

Featuring Adam SandlerJack/Jill
Al PacinoHimself
Katie HolmesErin
Allen Covert
Dana Carvey
Regis Philbin
Natalie Gal … Gym Instructor
Shaquille O’Neal
See all »
Director Dennis Dugan
Producer Broken Road Productions
Happy Madison Productions
See all »
Distributor Distributor: Columbia Pictures. Trademark logo.Columbia Pictures, a division of Sony Pictures

“His twin sister is coming for the holidays… and it ain’t pretty”

From the producers who brought you “Happy Gilmore” comes to story of a man named Jack Sadlestein, who has a pretty good life. However, little does he know that things are about to change when his twin sister, Jill, comes for a visit…

I honestly don’t know what to say about this film. It just wasn’t that good. Don’t get me wrong, there are some good performances by some of the actors, but not enough to make me enjoy the film. The humor? Crude, and just not funny. I probably only laughed two times in the entire film. There is just too much crude and suggestive content to make this film appealing to me. Plot? Very thin. This film probably should have been rated PG-13, and I’m surprised that it walked away with a PG rating. This is not a film for children—or adults, for that matter.

There is a lot of objectionable material that I’m going to have to mention.

Vulgarity/Profanity: I counted thirteen instances where God’s name is taken in vain and one instance of “hell”. Crude jokes are made about Jews and atheists. There are some mild jokes about God and Jesus. Jack and Jill are both seen passing gas. Jokes are made about Indian people (India) and about homeless people. The term “hooker” is mentioned twice. One character mentions, “choking on my own vomit.” There are a couple references made to bed wetting and “pee puddles.” Jill mentions she has to go and make “chocolate squirties (?).” The terms “horny” and “pros” (meaning prostitute) are mentioned, as well as the phrases “holy cr_p,” “hot,” and “sexy”. While Jill is in the bathroom, we can hear her “going.”

Sexuality is heavy for a PG film. Jill mentions to Jack the fact that all that Al Pacino wants to do with her is “play twister with your sister.” There is a scene where a man grabs Jill’s breasts. A man looks under Jill’s dress while she is being held up in the air and says, “It’s not a guy.” Jill makes a statement claiming, “The clock is ticking…” and makes reference to the fact that she “has the right equipment, and I get a reminder every 30 days.” Jack says he won’t make his wife wear something trashy, and Jill pulls a piece of paper from her bra. At a movie theater, Jack and Jill are both seen scratching their private areas. There is a scene where one man grabs Jill’s behind. Al Pacino tries to hit on Jill. Since Adam Sandler plays both Jack and Jill, there is cross-dressing involved (the most offensive element of this film, in my opinion). A girl is seen wearing a very revealing outfit towards the end of the film. In the beginning, there are pictures of naked babies.

Violence: There is a fight between two female characters. Jill gets punched in the face by Jack’s son. There are a few scenes where Jill is physically hurt (hit by a giant wheel during a taping of the “The Price is Right,” and falls off a jet ski, into the air, and lands on a table). Jill pushes someone off a bench. She hits a senior citizen with a stick, while playing a game of piñata. Jack (dressed as Jill) gets hit with a chair by Al Pacino.

Other: Jill sits on a horse, and it falls. There are a couple scenes of alcohol use.

At the beginning of the film, we see that Jack and Jill have a poor relationship, as brother and sister. They fight a lot and really don’t present the love and respect that God demands we show each other, especially to our family members. The Bible states in in Matthew 22:37-40

“Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love thy neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

When Jesus said to love our “neighbors” that includes our family members, as well. In the end, Jack comes to the realization that he loves his sister, despite her flaws.

I can’t recommend this film to anyone. It is just not funny. There is too much crude and suggestive content. In my opinion, this film is for adults only, and maybe not even adults. Sorry Hollywood, keep trying…

Violence: Moderate / Profanity: Heavy / Sex/Nudity: Heavy

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Positive
Positive—I can see on how this movie can be offensive, I liked it in my view. I don’t approve of Adam Sandler playing a woman, but the film was funny with him playing both characters—-I was laughing my head off. Guest stars like Al Pacino, Johnny Depp (who was a natural), Regis Philbin, David Spade, and other celebrities were in the film. The movie was what I would say somewhat stupid and immature, but really funny.

I have to say this has to be the best Adam Sandler movie I have ever seen (pretty much the cleanest) and that he has played. At the end of the movie, a friend (I think) of Jack’s wants Jill as his wife or gf (since Jill doesn’t want to be with Al Pacino), I was hoping there wouldn’t be same sexed kissing in the film, and to my relief, there was only kissing on the cheek.

You will notice some women look like men, because some are (David Spade, I think), which I found pretty gross, but I would watch this movie again. Give it a chance if you haven’t seen this film.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4
Anna, age 19 (USA)
Neutral
Neutral—“Jack and Jill,” and I debated if I should throw my 2-cents out there about what I thought of the movie. I was sure it was rated “PG,” but I should double check that. I have, to my memory, NOT seen an Adam Sandler movie all the way through, except maybe “Bedtime Stories” (that was his, right? Must not have left a big impression.). I guess if you like slapstick, and a guy that pulls off a whole movie in drag fairly well, and some HUGE bathroom humor scenes, it has its moments.

The idea is very good about sibling relationships, and the interviews with twins are very funny, but are they having a hard time making a living in Hollywood? Johnny Depp was in this movie, and Al Pacino almost starred in it, he had SO many lines. The list goes on.

The most amazing part is the product placement… Kuddo’s to Dunkin Donuts-how much did that cost?
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 3
Dorell Proshek, age 51 (USA)
Negative
Negative—I like brainless humor as much as the next guy, but this movie was awful, one of the worst movies I have ever seen. It was painful to watch. The theater I was in was very full, and you could hear awkward giggles in all the spots that were supposed to be funny but were not.

The only funny scenes are the ones shown in the TV commercials, and they are worn out. In places, it felt like they were making up lines as they went along.

And I disagree with the reviewer, in that, I thought Al Pacino was the worst part of the movie. His character was ridiculous. While there is not an over-abundance of bad language, there is suggestive language, and many statements meant to be humorous that were insensitive or racist.

Don’t see it, don’t buy it, don’t rent it.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 2
Wesley, age 48 (USA)
Comments from young people
Neutral—Jack and Jill had it’s funny moments though seeing Adam Sandler as a drag was somewhat disturbing. It relied a lot on potty humor and unfortunately was somewhat crass. To be honest, my only question when the film ended was how it got its PG rating… . Overall, it was funny. I did find myself laughing quite a bit during the movie. Would I recommend it? Depends on the person.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 3
Aliya Mcreynolds, age 14 (USA)
Movie Critics
“…could be Sandler’s worst film. And that’s saying something. …”
Scott Bowles, USA TODAY
“…Grating, lowbrow comedy in which Adam Sandler dons drag is a complete misfire. … contains long stretches of squirm-inducing tedium in which Sandler riffs and ad-libs far longer than he should, as if he thought that wearing a dress would immediately turn anything he did into comedy gold. … [1/4]”
Rene Rodriguez, The Miami Herald
“…It’s all pretty unfunny, and leaves you too much time to wonder about other things. Like, how did this sludge ever get a PG rating? …apart from Pacino’s lip-smacking performance—you’re still left with an Adam Sandler movie, with all that entails. …”
Stephen Whitty, The Star-Ledger (New Jersey)
“…certainly lives down to expectations… Yet the pic's general stupidity, careless direction and reliance on a single-joke premise that was never really funny to begin with are only the most obvious of its problems. …”
Andrew Barker, Variety
“…Going over the top, then downhill… Mr. Sandler… gives full and relentless voice to the woman-hatred that has always propelled his infantile shtick. …”
A.O. Scott, The New York Times
“…as always, includes their trademark gross-out flatulence scenes, Jewish jokes (Jill thinks ‘Skype’ is something anti-Semitic), shameless product branding, and obligatory syrupy PG ending. …All in good, clean, goofy fun. … [3/4]”
Barry Paris, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“…Sandler’s such a feeble actor that his bellowing rages never match the expression he musters on his blank face. He puts all his efforts into playing a woman, broadly and badly, so much so that the male twin is even duller than standard-issue Sandler. … [2½/4]”
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
“Adam & heave… atrocious comedy… there’s a reference to something “that makes me want to choke on my own vomit.” Just like this movie.”
Lou Lumenick, New York Post
Comments from young people
Negative—I saw this with my dad, because he didn’t want to see “Happy Feet 2.” So we went, and as the movie went on… . I was bored! I thought it would be fun, but it was an awful script! The goofy humour, sure, that was funny. So it was funny, at times. But there were several things that were offensive to me and probably to all other Christians.

There were a few scenes where characters drank beer, and maybe vodka. “”Oh My G_d,” was said many times. …In my opinion, skip it, and maybe, just maybe, if you have to watch it, then rent it, and watch it only once. This movie was shamefully offensive… .
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 1½
Andre, age 15 (Canada)
Positive—I don’t know what all the others are talking about. This is a fantastic movie! OK language, funny jokes, and Adam Sandler. 5/5 stars for comedy. The characters are Jewish and believe in God. I loved it, my friend loved it, and my mom loved it. A must see family movie.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 3½
Mason Campbell, age 11 (USA)
Neutral—…I wasn’t the biggest fan of this movie. It had the stupid funny moments. There were some things that were funny and some that were really annoying. Would I want anyone to see this movie?? Not really. Let’s just say that I won’t watch this again.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 2½
Meaghan, age 13 (USA)

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