The last Adam Sandler movie I watched was truly awful - Hotel Transylvania 3 (reviewed at -7). The one before that was even worse, Grown Ups 2. I really, REALLY hated these movies. I was expecting to really, REALLY hate this movie, too. I don't really, REALLY hate ALL Sandler movies, but I am constantly shocked at how often they are really, REALLY terrible, which is likely why we put off seeing this one for so long. But this wasn't that bad! I mean, it was no Game Night (reviewed at 6), which I also didn't expect to like, but it was actually pretty enjoyable!
Murder Mystery follows a police officer who can't quite make the cut to detective and his wife, a hairdresser that LOVES to read murder mystery novels. They find themselves embroiled in a (granted, over the top) series of mysterious murders, and they end up as unlikely suspects. They decide that they have to find the real killers or else they may never leave France!
I like that this movie doesn't take itself too seriously. When bad jokes are made, Sandler will say, "What?! You used to love my jokes!" They acknowledge they're in way over their heads several times and that they have no idea what they're doing. If you truly hate Sandler movies, there are plenty of reasons to not like this one. But if you're willing to give Sandler a chance, this is much more like 50 first dates than Grown Ups 2. Give it a try!