The Longest Yard is generally regarded as one of the greatest football movies of all time, as it both solidified Burt Reynolds as one of the greatest stars of his generation and fit within the anti-establishment themes that were prevalent throughout the “New Hollywood” era. While the prospect of remaking a film that had become so influential seemed difficult, anxieties about how the new version would compare to the original classic were heightened by the fact that it would star Adam Sandler, who had been on a downward streak in the eyes of many critics. However, The Longest Yard became Sandler’s highest-grossing comedy at the time of its release and even managed to win the favor of Roger Ebert, who had notoriously panned such films as Big Daddy, The Wedding Singer, Happy Gilmore, and Billy Madison.
What Makes the Remake of ‘The Longest Yard’ Different?
Both versions of The Longest Yard center on the washed-up football player Paul Crewe, who is sentenced to serve several years in prison after being involved in a drunk driving accident; while Sandler’s interpretation of the role is far less nasty than what Reynolds did in the original, it was a much more competitive, mean-spirited character compared to the other parts he had taken earlier on in his career. Crewe is welcomed with open arms by Warden Rudolph Hazen (James Cromwell), who offers him the opportunity to reduce his sentence if he agrees to train a team of other cons to compete in a game against the guards. Although Crewe is initially skeptical about the offer, as he suffers regular abuse from the guard Captain Brian Knauer (William Fichtner), he begins to steadily develop a friendship with the other men that are incarcerated, including Caretaker Farrell (Chris Rock). Reynolds appeared in the remake as Nate Scarborough, a former football coach who has been locked up alongside Crewe.
Related
It Was a Massive Bomb for Marvel, but It Still Has Some of the Best Superhero Action Scenes Ever — Which Is Probably Why It Became a Netflix Hit
This Marvel flop has some refreshingly nasty, brutal action sequences that give it some entertainment value.
The Longest Yard gave Sandler another opportunity to play an underdog but also showed his range as a dramatic actor; although Crewe’s initial interest is only in reducing his sentence and avoiding any real consequences for his actions, he eventually grows infuriated by the brutal tactics used by the guards. While the remake doesn’t have the same darkness as the original, it is fairly unflinching in its depiction of the horrific conditions that inmates face, particularly those that don’t have the same privileges as Crewe. Although Crewe has taken for granted the fact that he has the opportunity to compete in a sport he loves, he realizes that it is his responsibility to instill that same love of the game in the other men that look up to him as a role model. Nonetheless, The Longest Yard still contains the type of slapstick gags that one would expect from a Sandler film, including an uproarious cafeteria food fight and a particularly funny running gag about the smuggling of McDonald’s food items into prison.
‘The Longest Yard’ Showed the Versatility of Adam Sandler
The Longest Yard has one of the best ensemble casts of any of Sandler’s comedies, as it showed how dynamic of a screen presence Rock could be; it’s admirable that the comedian did not have to censor himself in order to appear in a family-friendly sports film, as he is given the opportunity to deliver more than a few edgy jokes. While Reynolds had not had a truly great role since his performance in Boogie Nights earned him the first Academy Award nomination of his career, he is quite engaged in playing an older, more wise mentor figure who gives the story its heart. By appearing alongside Sandler in a remake of one of his most beloved films, Reynolds appeared to be passing the torch from one generation of star to another.
The Longest Yard is an effective sports film, as the football scenes are treated with the same gravity that they were in the original; however, the remake does not feel entirely redundant, as it is able to insert satire about the ways in which sports media has changed since the 1970s. While the original The Longest Yard is still a classic that holds up, Sandler helped craft a funnier and, at times, more earnest remake that introduced a classic underdog story to a new generation.
Source link
