Blended (2014)

Movie · 2014 · Comedy, Romance · 1h 57m · PG-13 · English

Curator score: 0.2/10 (160.3K ratings)

Single dad, no clue. Single mom, flying solo.

Overview

Recently divorced mom Lauren and widowed dad Jim let their friends push them into a blind date, which goes disastrously wrong. Unsurprisingly, neither wants to see the other ever again. However, fate intervenes when both Jim and Lauren, unbeknownst to each other, purchase one-half of the same vacation package at a South African resort for families, during spring break. They and their children are forced to share the same romantic suite and participate in a slew of family activities together.

Ratings

Director

Frank Coraci

Production

GulfStream Pictures, Happy Madison Productions, RatPac Entertainment

Cast

Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Kevin Nealon, Terry Crews, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Bella Thorne, Joel McHale, Abdoulaye N'Gom, Jessica Lowe, Braxton Beckham, Emma Fuhrmann, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Kyle Red Silverstein, Zak Henri, Shaquille O'Neal, Dan Patrick, Jackie Sandler, Sunny Sandler, Sadie Sandler, Judith Sandler

Where to watch

Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus

Curator Review

Verdict

A lightweight, broadly sentimental Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore rom-com that works best as easygoing comfort viewing. The jokes are uneven and often crude, but the movie has enough warmth, family energy, and sunny vacation escapism to satisfy viewers who want low-stakes feel-good comedy.

Best for

  • fans of breezy, low-pressure romantic comedies
  • viewers who like Sandler’s softer, sentimental comedies
  • people looking for family-friendly vacation escapism
  • audiences who enjoy chemistry-driven star vehicles

Skip if

  • you want sharp writing or consistently strong jokes
  • you dislike broad comedy and juvenile humor
  • you’re looking for a fresh or original rom-com premise
  • you prefer romance with more emotional realism or bite

Overview

Blended is exactly the kind of movie that knows its audience and mostly aims to keep them comfortable. The setup is familiar, the gags are broad, and the emotional beats are telegraphed, but the film leans into an easygoing charm that can be disarming if you’re in the right mood. The resort setting gives it a sunny, vacation-postcard gloss, and the family dynamics add just enough sweetness to keep it from feeling purely disposable.

Worth noting

The biggest asset is the central pairing, which has enough leftover goodwill to make the movie feel warmer than its script often deserves. It’s not especially clever, and some of the humor lands with a thud, but it does have a sincere, crowd-pleasing rhythm. If you expect a polished romantic comedy, you’ll probably be frustrated; if you want a harmless, mildly funny comfort watch, it can do the job.

Bottom line

Its reputation as a lesser entry in this lane is deserved, but that doesn’t mean it’s dead weight. The movie is soft, sentimental, and occasionally silly in a way that can be oddly effective when you’re not asking much from it. It’s best approached as a casual hangout movie rather than a true rom-com standout.

Top Letterboxd reviews

barbora (3.5★) · 3788 likes

do you think adam sandler's characters even have wardrobes or does he just wear his own clothes?

jackson ‼️ (3.5★) · 1563 likes

explain how this is unironically a good movie

James (Schaffrillas) (2.5★) · 1298 likes

Adam Sandler really said "What if I made Just Go With It again"

ty (4★) · 1074 likes

This movie has so much heart and is funny. Don't take it too serious and you'll enjoy it

gigi (3.5★) · 1062 likes

the adam sandler and drew barrymore cinematic universe is something so serious to me

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Topics

romantic comedy, family comedy, vacation setting, feel-good, broad humor, single parents, blended family, sentimental, 2000s-style rom-com, escapist

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