Every so often the movie 50 First Dates comes on cable. It is a good way to take my mind off the pain and discomfort
when I am winding out thirty or forty minutes on the exercycle.
For those of you that are unfamiliar with the movie, Adam Sandler plays the fictional Henry Roth, a veterinarian at a Sea-World-like amusement part. He takes care of the walruses (including Jocko), the dolphins (Mary Kate and Ashley) and his pet penquin (Willy). Henry falls for Lucy, a local girl who suffered a head injury a year or so earlier. The only disability from the accident is that her short-term memory is erased every night. Each morning when she awakens, Henry has to get her to fall in love with him all over again.
But there are several ongoing themes in the movie that, while cute and funny, I can never figure out.
- Henry’s best friend is Ula, a dope-smoking islander played by Rob Schneider. Ula’s character is funny, but what is interesting is his four children—all elementary school age—who are athletically gifted in whatever they do, be it golf, diving, or making fun of their father.
- Alexa, played by Lusia Strus, is Henry’s sexually androgynous assistant. Although she appears to be a woman, her sexual choices throughout the movie go either way. Again, another funny role, but I can never figure her out. Like Ula’s kids, her role does not move the plot forward.
- Doug, played by Sean Astin, is Lucy’s older brother. Doug is a body builder but he has been disqualified from competition for steroid use. He is still using the steroids and ocassionally goes into a “roid rage.” He also talks with a lisp.
These are all funny side stories, but they never contribute to the overall plot. They do not fall into the definition of a McGuffin, a red herring or a shaggy dog story. What are they?
I have a character named Aaron in Rules for Giving. He is the IT manager at the advertising agency owned by Gavin, the protagonist. Aaron’s character moves the plot to a conclusion by providing a key clue. I also took the liberty of giving Aaron a character quirk. He is addicted to nasal spray. He is commonly seen walking around the office with an inhaler hanging from his nostril (I used to work with a fellow who had this issue).
At the end of the movie Alexa, whose sexuality you never quite determine, ends up with Doug the body builder. You never figure out the gag about Ula’s kids.
50 First Dates was made for a budget of $75 million. The box office take, according to its Wikipedia entry, was more than $196 million. That was a tidy profit. I guess the mystery story lines didn’t prove to be that much of a problem.
See ya’ later.
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