Adam Sandler and David Spade Fake Their Own Deaths In ‘The Do Over’

Dyan James

It may be a do-over for the actor as well as the character as Adam Sandler’s “The Do Over” is generating a lot of positive buzz and getting a much better reception than his last film “The Ridiculous 6.”

This time around, Sandler plays Max who, along with his pal Charlie (David Spade), is living a painfully humdrum life and would love nothing more than to shake up his monotonous routine. It’s when the two fellas attend their 25th high school reunion that they decide to wipe the slate clean and have the proverbial “do-over.” How? By faking their own deaths, of course, after which they assume new identities in the pursuit of living a more exciting existence. Turns out, in this effort to turn their luck around, their new identities end up being two guys whose trouble is even worse than their own.

The successful formula of his usual, over-the-top shenanigans is welcomed by Sandler fans with open arms as the action-packed “The Do Over” is chock-full of his familiar antics like near-naked women (and men!), potty mouths, guns and car crashes. Steven Brill, who directed the film, says it brings a bit of newness we’ve not yet seen from Sandler.

“I’ve known Adam for almost 30 years,” Brill said in an interview about the latest flick. “It’s his best in a way you’ve never seen him before.” Brill also directed Sandler in “Mr. Deeds” and “Little Nicky.”

This is the second of four films that Sandler’s company, Happy Madison Productions, created exclusively for Netflix. The first of the four, “The Ridiculous Six,” an exaggerated imitation of classic westerns, came to Netflix in December of ‘15. Although it starred some Hollywood heavy hitters like Taylor Lautner and Luke Wilson, the film was widely panned for what was deemed as a negative characterization of Native Americans. In fact, extras on the movie walked off the set, protesting characters such as “the drunk Indian.”

But critics and fans alike are confident that “The Do Over” will be just that for Sandler, rivaling his previous successes like “The Waterboy,” “Big Daddy,” “Billy Madison,” “Happy Gilmore” and “The Wedding Singer.” The film also stars Paula Patton as Heather and Luis Guzmán as Jorge.

“The Do Over“ arrives exclusively on Netflix May 27.