The latest remake of Burt Reynold's 1974 flick, Adam Sandler's take on The Longest Yard, is unlikely to win him many new fans. But it has merits as a good, solid, enjoyable comedy, and it finds Sandler himself in very strong form. The plot sets him as an ex-American footballer, who is sent to prison following a car accident. There, he finds himself putting together a team of convicts to face off against the prison guards, an opportunity that many of the prisoners simply don't want to pass up. And that pretty much sets the stage for a fast-paced, frequently-funny comedy that doesn't eclipse the original by any means, but is a worthy testament to it.
Its main strength is its cast. Alongside Sandler himself are a collection of names from the American Football scene, but British audiences are more likely to warm to Chris Rock. He pretty much steals good chunks of the movie from under Sandler's nose, and some of the film's finest moments are down to him.
Granted, The Longest Yard hardly sets new ground for comedies, and neither is it the finest laugh-fest of the last few years. But it is fun, it is funny, and for Adam Sandler and Chris Rock fans in particular, it's a fine way to spend a couple of hours. Worth a spin.--Simon Brew