With the potential for comedy that gay firemen and the physical contrast that Kevin James and Adam Sandler present, Chuck and Larry is very subdued. There is a noticeable absence of scenes that any classic comedy could include, the prolonging of an awkward situation or capturing a situation's spiral into chaos and absurdity, and the often exaggerated representation of a gay man by a straight man, a caricature such as Sacha Baron Cohen's Bruno, in comedic settings are all conspicuously few in Chuck and Larry. In this sense, it fails the true aim of a comedy, and the foundations, the themes on which the script and plot are constructed, lend no momentum to the comic force of the movie. That is not to say this film lacks humour entirely, just that it is not as upfront as one would expect. It has its gems, though they are at times far in between, and though the film disappoints its potential, you will find yourself laughing. Laughing, however, is not the only reaction you will have to this movie. Chuck and Larry manages to present the issue of gender equality and sensitivity in the familiar and comfortable vehicle of a buddy comedy. In showing straight men tackling the challenges homophobia, it makes obvious the ignorance that causes and motivates discrimination. For a comedy to successfully deliver such a clear message without feeling burdened by that responsibility is "Chuck and Larry"'s saving grace, and indeed redeems it as a film.
Review of I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry
