Today’s quick review: The Do-Over. Charlie McMillan (David Spade), a bank manager with a miserable life, gets a second chance when Max Kessler (Adam Sandler), his best friend from high school, fakes their deaths and takes them to Puerto Rico using the identities of two dead men. But what begins as a tropical vacation turns dangerous when unknown killers come after Charlie and Max, believing they are the men whose identities they stole.
The Do-Over is an action comedy starring David Spade and Adam Sandler. Two best friends out to make a fresh start end up in over their heads when they are mistaken for two dead men with dangerous enemies. The Do-Over offers a peculiar blend of raunchy humor and action as Charlie and Max try to figure out why someone actually wants them dead. Good leads and a decent plot give the movie some legs, but a few quirks limit its appeal.
The Do-Over’s story covers a lot of ground. The early part of the movie is purely personal as Charlie reexamines his life and Max shows him a reckless way to get what he wants out of it. But the movie takes a sharp turn once the shooting starts, shifting from a playful story about seizing the day to a basic but effective action thriller. The jokes never stop, but they do have to share the limelight as the plot comes to the fore.
The catch is that The Do-Over goes too far with its raunchy humor. The plot of the movie has broad appeal, and Spade and Sandler have the effortless chemistry needed to pull it off. But the movie has a habit of tossing in crude sex jokes where none are needed, a habit that only gets worse as the movie goes on. For some viewers this will be a plus, but the degree and manner of raunchy comedy will turn off more than a few viewers.
The Do-Over is a fun pick for anyone who can stomach its cruder side. The bait-and-switch it pulls with its plot makes the story a little lopsided, but it makes up for this with wild antics, leads who get along well, and a reasonably rewarding story. Sensitive viewers should steer clear, as should anyone looking for a heartfelt comedy about second chances.
For a case of mistaken identity with less comedy and more romance, try The Tourist. For a dramatic comedy about a man who fakes his death to make a fresh start, try Arthur Newman. For a more serious story about an ordinary man doing something about his insufferable life, try Fight Club. For a more relaxed comedy with David Spade and Adam Sandler, try Grown Ups. For an Adam Sandler comedy with a similar focus on sex, That’s My Boy.
[5.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4769836/). I give it a 6.5 for wild comedy with an odd plot trajectory.