In Jack and Jill, Adam Sandler hilariously embraced the challenge of playing both twins who can’t stand each other. The comedy follows their chaotic antics as Jack desperately tries to convince Al Pacino, yes, the legendary actor himself is in the movie, (quite possibly the wirdiest detour he ever took) to star in an ad for him. The catch? Jack has to tolerate his sister Jill, because, surprise! Pacino has a crush on her!
Despite the film being one of the most roasted in his career, Sandler threw himself into both roles like a champ, especially when it came to the fabulously over-the-top Jill.
How Adam Sandler Prepared for Playing Jill
In his comedy career, Adam Sandler has truly done it all, even donning a dress and playing a woman, and let’s be honest, he did it with his whole heart and soul!
While talking to Tribute Movies almost 12 years ago during the press tour, he hilariously shared his appreciation for certain aspects of womanhood, or at least what it’s like to step into those shoes. He said,
The whole bandaid on the nipples thing… I am a fan of it. The comming off process is painfull but the putting on is fun. Chest I shaved, arms, legs it was too much.
Further speaking about the character, he told the Belfast Telegraph,
Jill’s a big girl, and fearless. She doesn’t try and look gorgeous all the time, which made it easier. That’s when I got my biggest laughs growing up. I’d do John Wayne and a couple of other old-timers pretty well when I was a kid, but then I’d put the babushka [scarf] on my head and come in as my grandmother – and that always brought the house down.
While the movie didn’t exactly win over the critics, Sandler’s portrayal of both Jack and Jill remains one of the most quintessentially Sandler things he could have done.
Jack and Jill is The Highest-Grossing Thanksgiving Movie with a 3% Rating!
Even though it snagged the title of one of Adam Sandler’s worst-rated movies, landing as his second-lowest on Rotten Tomatoes overall with a mere 3% rating, and the absolute bottom when it comes to co-star Katie Holmes, Jack and Jill still manages to pack in some surprising elements that might just leave you shaking your head in disbelief.
For starters, it features Al Pacino in a role. Plus, believe it or not, this flick is also the highest-grossing Thanksgiving movie out there.
Well, Pacino had his reasons! In his memoir Sonny Boy, he revealed that he lost all his money thanks to a corrupt accountant who eventually did time fin fail. With his finances in shambles, he had to take whatever came his way, and the first one that popped up was Jack and Jill. He wrote (via The Hollywood Reporter),
Jack and Jill was the first film I made after I lost my money. To be honest, I did it because I didn’t have anything else, Adam Sandler wanted me, and they paid me a lot for it. So I went out and did it, and it helped. I love Adam, he was wonderful to work with and has become a dear friend. He also just happens to be a great actor and a hell of a guy
And as per Box Office Mojo, this Dennis Dugan movie grossed about $74 million domestically and nearly $150 million worldwide. Thus despite doing what it did on Rotten Tomatoes and sweeping up the Razzies, it nearly doubled its $79 million budget. And ended up becoming the highest-grossing Thanksgiving movie of all time!
Jack and Jill is available on Apple TV for rent.
