The Longest Yard DVD Review

"THE LONGEST YARD" reviews

DVD

THE LONGEST YARD

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2006-02-02 16:55:40

Provider

DVD Review

Adam Sandler stars in this overhaul of the Burt Reynolds 1974 vehicle, which pitted cons against screws in a prison football (of the American variety) match. The original slyly commented on the politics of the Watergate era, thanks to the great director Robert Aldrich.

Any Adam Sandler movie is unlikely to have any such subtext and this version is played strictly for laughs. Although you don't really get that many except when Sandler spars with the excellent Chris Rock, whose verbal banter and irrepressible energy are the most attractive aspect of the film.

Sandler plays a former quarterback now angling for a get-out-of-jail card in return for whipping the prison team into shape sufficiently only for them to get whupped by the guards who are are a bunch of steroid-munching racist macho maniacs clearly not meant to win the sympathy of the audience.

Rapper Nelly pops up as a running back for the prison side, Courtney Cox plays Sandler's wife and there are appearances from Gary Oldman and James Cromwell too but, as with many recent remakes, there's much more style than substance here.

The DVD also includes three featurettes including The Making of..., a Nelly music video, deleted scenes and, of course, blooper reel.