by For everyone who thought that Adam Sandler had stopped trying.
For everyone who wondered if Sandler could ever recapture the essence of his comedy that made so many of us love him in the first place.
For all of you and then some, Sandler’s first Netflix comedy special may not live up to its title, 100% Fresh, although it is quite a refreshing change of pace from the former Saturday Night Live star. It’s Sandler’s best work in a decade!
As I wrote in my review for Decider:
The format is reminiscent of his first two platinum albums, loaded with songs with amusing albeit brief patter to bring them all together.
Having so many venues to choose from allows (director Steven) Brill and Sandler to showcase his enduring popularity, as well as edit out all the filler. The opening bit, for example, finds Sandler singing in dress rehearsal, before cutting to two or three other locations (including The Comic Strip in New York City, where he started back in the mid-1980s) while he tags the song with additional punchlines.
Moving seamlessly from intimate clubs to theaters to arenas and back again really does result in a 73-minute performance that is 100 percent fresh.
It might not matter if any of Sandler’s new ditties reach the heights or radio airplay of “The Chanukah Song,” which dates back to 1994.
There are a few songs, though, that are more than just catchy.
Behold… “Phone Wallet Keys”
“UFC Ears”
The other two big numbers you’ll have to tune in to Netflix to watch and learn are “Bar Mitzvah Boy” and “Farley,” Sandler’s loving tribute to Chris Farley.
