Susan Granger’s review of “The Out-Laws” (Netflix)
Perhaps it’s unfair but when the opening logo of the new comedy “The Out-Laws” indicates that it’s “A Happy Madison Production,” I’m immediately wary. Adam Sandler’s concept of humor has rarely matched mine.
Dorky bank manager Owen Browning (Adam Devine) is engaged to pretty Parker (Nina Dobrev) and they’re busy planning their upcoming wedding. Owen’s even constructed a diorama for the seating arrangement using action figures; he’s He-Man while Parker is the Pink Power Ranger.
Although his clueless parents (Julie Hagerty, Richard Kind) still think Parker is a stripper, not a yoga teacher, they’re relatively harmless compared with her intimidating, criminally-connected parents (Ellen Barkin, Pierce Brosnan), who arrive unexpectedly after spending many years studying the Yanomami tribe in the Amazon.
Of course, that’s merely their cover story and, apparently, they’re in need of cash to pay off villainous Rehan (Poorna Jagunnathan), so they become prime suspects when blabbermouth Owen’s bank is robbed by the so-called ‘Ghost Bandits,’ pursued for years by FBI agent Oldham (Michael Rooker). So much for the predictable plot.
Vaguely scripted by Evan Turner and Ben Zasove, it’s helmed by Tyler Spindel – formerly Adam Sandler’s second unit director – who unwisely encouraged the cast’s senselessly puerile improvisation which simply falls flat.
On second thought, perhaps ad-libbing is better than the Parker’s supposedly sexy scripted line: “I’m gonna twist you like one of your Go-Gurts and slurp you dry” or Oldham’s demand: “License and masturbation please.”
FYI: Adam Sandler’s wife Jackie plays one of the two Vegan Divas and their daughter Sadie plays Owen’s cousin.
On the Granger Gauge of 1 to 10, “The Out-Laws” is a moronic 2, a total waste of time, streaming on Netflix.
