I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007)

14% of critics liked it
(156 reviews)
73% of users liked it
(1,277,472 ratings)

When two testosterone-fueled firemen attempt to register as domestic partners in order to bypass the bureaucratic red tape preventing one of them from naming his own two children as his life-insurance beneficiaries, their low-key ruse turns into headline news in this quirky matrimonial comedy… More When two testosterone-fueled firemen attempt to register as domestic partners in order to bypass the bureaucratic red tape preventing one of them from naming his own two children as his life-insurance beneficiaries, their low-key ruse turns into headline news in this quirky matrimonial comedy starring Adam Sandler and Kevin James. Chuck Levine (Sandler) and Larry Valentine (James) are two New York City firefighters whose longtime friendship has endured many a five-alarm fire. All that widower Larry wants is to ensure that his two children will be taken care of if anything should happen to him on the job, and all that single blaze-battler Chuck wants is to carry on with his carefree life of noncommitment. Having once rescued Larry from certain death in a particularly fearsome inferno, beholden Chuck feels forever indebted to his brave friend and has vowed to repay the favor when the time is right. When Larry discovers that the only means of circumventing the civic red tape that could throw his children's futures into jeopardy is to take Chuck as his lawfully wedded husband, his obligated pal reluctantly agrees to step up to the alter with the understanding that the arrangement will be a well-kept secret between themselves and the justice of the peace. A potentially fatal flaw in their presumably foolproof plan is soon revealed, however, when an overzealous bureaucrat decides to question Chuck and Larry's partnership. Subsequently forced to embark on a mandatory honeymoon and pose as starry-eyed newlyweds, Chuck and Larry quickly discover just how important it can be to stick by a friend in his or her time of need. Jessica Biel, Steve Buscemi, Ving Rhames, and Dan Aykroyd co-star in a comedy from The Benchwarmers director Dennis Dugan. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 55 min.
Directed By: David Dobkin, Dennis Dugan
Written By: Barry Fanaro, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 20, 2007 Wide
On DVD: Nov 6, 2007
Studio: Universal Pictures

Critic Reviews

David Ansen, Newsweek
There is something to be said for a movie that may end up preaching, for a change, to the unconverted. If only the laughs were bigger, smarter and more frequent than they are.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
The premise is older than the pilot for Three's Company, and just as unfunny.
Joanne Kaufman, Wall Street Journal
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry manages to insult gays, straights, men, women, children, African-Americans, Asians, pastors, mailmen, insurance adjusters, firemen, doctors -- and fans of show music. That's championship stuff.
Claudia Puig, USA Today
With a tacked-on PC message and leaden attempts at humor, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry is a movie that gives marriage, homosexuality, friendship, firefighters, children and nearly everything else a bad name.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
Chuck and Larry remains something close to remarkable: an Adam Sandler movie that manages to be crude and caring in equal measure. In the multiplex, this is called progress.
Kyle Smith, New York Post
If there were a Straight Lack-of-Pride Parade, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry could be the grand marshal. The movie isn't insulting to homosexuals but to comedy.
Alonso Duralde, AfterElton.com
While it's very easy to eviscerate Chuck and Larry from an activist point of view, all one really has to do to slam the flick is look at the lazy, contrived writing and the traffic-cop direction by frequent Sandler accomplice Dennis Dugan.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Displays considerable heart
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
The film won't be remembered as a classic, but rather a standard release among a slew of Adam Sandler comedies.
Felix Gonzalez Jr., DVD Review
If you ever wanted to know what drew people to minstrel shows, just ask the people who liked this movie.
Felix Gonzalez Jr., DVD Review
What truly makes [the film] so detestable is its disingenuous attempt to justify itself with a tacked-on call for acceptance of all people and lifestyles.
Jeff Bayer, The Scorecard Review
They could have focused more on the similarities of best friends and a gay couple. Instead, they just try to offend everyone in sight and then act sorry at the end.
Brandon Fibbs, Colorado Springs Gazette
You know a movie is going to be bad when Rob Schneider shows up as a Chinese wedding chapel minister. No, come to think of it, you know a movie is going to be bad when Rob Schneider shows up at all
David Cornelius, eFilmCritic.com
Above all the idiotic shenanigans and brutally offensive conversation, Chuck & Larry is flat-out a badly made movie.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
As complex as a garden-variety sitcom...
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness
One of the year's most stunningly feeble offerings.
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
The worst thing about this DVD is that there are a lot of extras. The best thing is that they're mostly at least quite brief.
Kam Williams, Mount Desert Islander
So insensitively executed that it deserves to be dismissed as a mean-spirited indulgence in homophobia. Not only are gays

Read all 18 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Phil H

Not as funny as I thought it could be, I love Kevin James ('The King of Queens' rocks) but this just isn't up there. Really wanted to love it but just found myself struggling to smile, as for Adam Sandler..his character is just the same as every other comedy character… More
Not as funny as I thought it could be, I love Kevin James ('The King of Queens' rocks) but this just isn't up there. Really wanted to love it but just found myself struggling to smile, as for Adam Sandler..his character is just the same as every other comedy character he plays, getting rather dull now methinks. The story is kinda cool, two men pretending to be gay is always a show stopper haha and there are some good moments like Sandler slapping James' face and James pretending to love it, but nothing special. Just the usual, predictable lines and ending really, stick with 'King of Queens' and some of Sandlers earlier films where his everyman portrayal is at its original best.
Matt G

Audiences love when a fat fireman marries a skinny fireman due to money problems. Now who thought that was a good idea?
Jeff "

I Know Pronounce You Chuck and Larry is one of the worst comedies I have seen in quite some. Starring Adam Sandler and Kevin James, this film is a missed opportunity to do something good. However the film has limitations, including a very bad script. Adam Sandler is no longer funny,… More
I Know Pronounce You Chuck and Larry is one of the worst comedies I have seen in quite some. Starring Adam Sandler and Kevin James, this film is a missed opportunity to do something good. However the film has limitations, including a very bad script. Adam Sandler is no longer funny, and Kevin James is a very poor actor and comedian. I've never laughed at his stuff, and I find painful to watch. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry is a poor comedy that suffers from a bad script, bad comic gags, although some parts made me smile, it wasn't enough to save this film from being a horrible waste of time. This might have been a good flick if it wasn't for the people involved, but the thing is almost anything produced by Happy Madison Productions will suck. In this case the few actually comic bits are decent, but miss the mark altogether because the jokes don't hold up well after a few viewings. So in the end, this film awfully bad, and not worth your time. Watching paint dry is more amusing than watching this film. This is a poor film that has nothing to offer. The film is horrible, and it really has strained comedic elements to make this an annoying, insulting comedy. I hated the film, and overall it was a pointless waste of time. I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry is an uninspired comedy that isn't worth seeing. Avoid it if you have a chance.
Candy R

Hilarious comedy about two bestfriends who get married to benefit from the work pension fund after one recently was widowed. It's funny from start to finish. Great cameos from lots of well known actors. Highly recommended.
Bethany M

Adam Sandler is back at his best, although the ending was predictable you couldn't help but laugh at the hilarious amount of scenes this film has. A must see!
Brad W

This was kinda bad. It was pretty dumb but had funny parts. Adam Sandler are Kevin James are just funny at any time. The rest of the movie just kinda sucked.
Clintus M

This movie tries to convey a message of tolerance and acceptance, following Adam Sandler's character's conversion from homophobic to defender. It gets a little too outrageous and gratuitous from time to time, but that's what I've come to expect from Happy Madison… More
This movie tries to convey a message of tolerance and acceptance, following Adam Sandler's character's conversion from homophobic to defender. It gets a little too outrageous and gratuitous from time to time, but that's what I've come to expect from Happy Madison productions. There's obvious chemistry between Sandler and Kevin James, maybe the best actor here although Ving Rhames practically steals the whole thing. Rob Schneider is especially stereotypical as the Asian minister, and Richard Chamberlein and Dan Akroyd appear but are wasted. As for Jessica Biel, she's acceptable in her role. It may be juvenile and sexist, but if you're a guy, her underwear scene alone makes the movie worth your time. I'm sure that's just what Sandler was going for. The whole premise and legal argument is ridiculous and stupid. This movie tries to offend everyone with stereotypes yet manages to actually be funny. Take or leave the message, this isn't Shakespeare, its an Adam Sandler movie for crying out loud.
Anthony L

I now pronounce you Chuck & Larry manages to be homophobic, sexist, racist, xenophobic and insulting towards Firemen, homeless people, Postmen....the list goes on. Quite impressive really when you think about it, this film was in cinemas around the world! Who exactly was the… More
I now pronounce you Chuck & Larry manages to be homophobic, sexist, racist, xenophobic and insulting towards Firemen, homeless people, Postmen....the list goes on. Quite impressive really when you think about it, this film was in cinemas around the world! Who exactly was the target audience? To be perfectly honest though, I don't think anyone got too upset about it because in the end, it is infantile, stupid and not very funny. Intelligent people of all shapes and sizes are better than this and won't let it bother them too much but I still find it sad that films like this are still being made. What I dislike most of all though (and I dislike a lot about this film) is that the filmmakers believe that just because they state 'Hey, being gay is actually OK!' at the end of the film, it makes it all OK, like a get out of jail free card! That doesn't cut it for me I'm afraid, if all you do is constantly insult for 2 long hours, saying 'Only joking' afterwards does not make it acceptable. Also, why is it that Homosexuality and homosexual story lines in Hollywood always have to mention AIDS, like homosexuality and AIDS go hand in hand. It's is just unacceptable. This type of film should have been thrown out long ago, along with Homophobia, sexism, racism, xenophobia etc. Heads should hang in shame.
Richard C

a couple funny parts, it was okay but not great. C
Film C

its an entertainng enough movie, thats funny in places, but i found the sotry and whole idea of the movie just silly and boring in places! its not the best movie in the world but i guess its not the worst movie in the world either!! watch it if you like adam sandler other wise dont… More
its an entertainng enough movie, thats funny in places, but i found the sotry and whole idea of the movie just silly and boring in places! its not the best movie in the world but i guess its not the worst movie in the world either!! watch it if you like adam sandler other wise dont bother!!
Conner R

I think this movie does as much harm as it does good. While I think it was nice that Adam Sandler tried to make a gay-themed movie, it just fed into the same horrible stereotypes that have been paraded around for decades. It's almost hard to watch because it's such a… More
I think this movie does as much harm as it does good. While I think it was nice that Adam Sandler tried to make a gay-themed movie, it just fed into the same horrible stereotypes that have been paraded around for decades. It's almost hard to watch because it's such a horrible representation. What I think is really wrong is that this was seen as a good representation, just horrible.
KJ P

This movie was very enjoyable! Not the best work from either kevin James or Adam Sandler, but it sure is very funny!
Dean !

A pretty funny comedy as 2 New York firemen pretend to be gay for pension benefits. It has a strong cast and some quite funny scenes. One of the better more recent comedies made and starring the beautiful Jessica Biel!
Lewis C

Lays on the "Christians Hate Gays" fallacy a little thick, but manages to avoid being a complete waste of time. Jessica Biel has never looked hotter.
Summer W

Kevin James and Adam Sandler make a good comic duo. The movie follows the typical formula, but it's funny enough to be forgiven. While it's about a pair of rather douchey dudes ripping off the system (good reason or no), the undercurrent is really a heartwarming message of… More
Kevin James and Adam Sandler make a good comic duo. The movie follows the typical formula, but it's funny enough to be forgiven. While it's about a pair of rather douchey dudes ripping off the system (good reason or no), the undercurrent is really a heartwarming message of tolerance and acceptance.
Morgan S

oo oo, GIRLS DAY! lol laughed soo hard at that part.!
Luke B

A film that tries to address a serious issue but mostly comes off as offensive in its immaturity. Sandler manages to tone it down and take a back seat to Kevin James who gives a fairly decent performance but is held back by a script that fails to transcend mediocirty. The humour is… More
A film that tries to address a serious issue but mostly comes off as offensive in its immaturity. Sandler manages to tone it down and take a back seat to Kevin James who gives a fairly decent performance but is held back by a script that fails to transcend mediocirty. The humour is also far too basic, with the acting gay jokes becoming old before they've started. Finally it manages to have some kind of positive message but again it is childish and heavy handed. Buscemi, Rhames and Aykroyd are all wasted and have about one funny moment each. They could have summed this up in 5 seconds with the line "It's OK to be gay".
Lady D

I did find Adam Sandler a little hard to believe as a playboy type character, but the accent and the attitude was a refreshing change for him. The film was watchable, but I have to say not particularly funny.
Lorenzo v

Adam Sandler and Kevin James star as Chuck Levine and Larry Valentine respectively, A couple of firefighters who have to hatch a hair-brained scheme and act like a gay couple in order to get Larry domestic partner benefits. I'm not surprised in the least that GLAD gave this film… More
Adam Sandler and Kevin James star as Chuck Levine and Larry Valentine respectively, A couple of firefighters who have to hatch a hair-brained scheme and act like a gay couple in order to get Larry domestic partner benefits. I'm not surprised in the least that GLAD gave this film their seal of approval, as apart from some rather lame half-hearted soft jabs at homosexuals, the film does promote an extremely gay friendly message. Which in and of itself wouldn't be an entirely bad thing IF the actual jokes in this alleged comedy actually worked. Which they certainly don't often relying on jokes so stale that one could practically taste the mold on them. It's also one of those films that rely on a copious amount of uninspired cameos that feel shoehorned in the the story. PS: Poor Jessica Biel as Chuck's secret love interest has never been in a good film, and this one doesn't do anything to dispel the rumor that she could possibly be anything more than merely eye candy for hormonal adolescents and horny middle-aged men.
Jani H

I usually don't like Adam Sandler films, cuz his films are really dumb and mostly unfunny. This film had it's moments, went sooo crazy at times, but in the end it's totally predictable and very offensive to pretty much everything. Two straight firefighters try to fuck… More
I usually don't like Adam Sandler films, cuz his films are really dumb and mostly unfunny. This film had it's moments, went sooo crazy at times, but in the end it's totally predictable and very offensive to pretty much everything. Two straight firefighters try to fuck the system by marrying each other? Funny story? Hell no, but the supporting actors like Steve Buscemi and Ving Rhames are the ones that make this film worth a look. The film is not a total disaster, made me laugh out loud a couple of times. But be warned, if you're easily offended.