For more than half a decade most of Adam Sandler’s new movies have been housed at Netflix. But it’s an old fan-favorite that’s managed to hit the streamer’s Top 10 movies list in the United States. Billed as a romantic comedy, Just Go with It stars Jennifer Aniston alongside Sandler, Nicole Kidman, Nick Swardson, and Brooklyn Decker. The film is a remake of the 1969 Cactus Flower from director Gene Saks.
Just Go with It tells the story of a plastic surgeon named Danny Maccabee (Adam Sandler), who’s a total player when it comes to love. He runs a romantic hustle by pretending to be married so he can date women with no strings attached. Although he’s maintained this web of lies for years, everything changes when he meets “the one” (Brooklyn Decker). Since she refuses to date a married man, Danny needs to cover his tracks. So, he gets his assistant (Jennifer Aniston) to pretend to be his high-maintenance soon-to-be ex-wife. But this only makes things more complicated.
Released in 2011, Just Go with It is directed by Dennis Dugan from a script by Allan Loeb and Timothy Dowling. Production took place in Los Angeles and the Hawaiian islands of Maui and Kauai between March and May 2010. The film is intentionally vague about which island is featured towards the end of the story. Especially since Jennifer Aniston and her co-stars are seen hiking across a rope bridge in Maui and arrive at a spectacular waterfall in Kauai during the next scene.
Just Go With It
The film grossed over $214 million, making it a box office success. However, it received mostly negative reviews with critics slamming its plot and editing. Although the movie earned praise for its writing and acting, it won two Golden Raspberry Awards for Worst Actor and Worst Director. Moreover, The Telegraph listed Just Go with It in its “10 worst films of 2011” line-up, describing it as a crass, overpopulated remake of Cactus Flower. Fortunately, it was saved from complete disaster by Jennifer Aniston who has expert comic timing and plays like a grown-up. Nicole Kidman was praised as the project’s sole bright spot for her performance.
While Just Go with It may have failed to impress critics, Jennifer Aniston remains one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actresses. She gained international recognition as Rachel Green on the hit sitcom Friends. The series ran from 1994 to 2004, earning her a Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award for her efforts. Since then she has starred in several dramas, comedies, and romantic comedies. Her biggest box office successes include 2003’s Bruce Almighty, The Break-Up in 2006, and We’re the Millers in 2013. Each of these movies grossed over $200 million at the global box office.
Jennifer Aniston has also starred in a few indie films which showcase a more serious side of her acting talents. This includes 1999’s Office Space, 2002’s The Good Girl, and Friends with Money in 2006. She also received critical acclaim for 2014’s Cake and Netflix’s Dumplin‘ in 2018. The Friends alum returned to television in 2019, producing and starring in the Apple TV+ drama series The Morning Show, for which she won another Screen Actors Guild Award.
Murder Mystery
The actress is currently set to team up with Adam Sandler again for Murder Mystery 2. The film serves as a sequel to the 2019 comedy-mystery which was directed by Kyle Newacheck from a script b by James Vanderbilt. The story follows a married couple who get caught up in a murder investigation on a billionaire’s yacht. The Jennifer Aniston movie was a massive hit for Netflix. It broke viewership records, with close to 30.9 million households tuning in over the first three days of its release.
With Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler set to reprise their roles for the sequel, Netflix is sure to have another hit on the horizon. Murder Mystery 2 will be directed by Jeremy Garelick from a script by James Vanderbilt, with revisions by Garelick. Adeel Akhtar’s Maharajah and John Kani’s Colonel Ulenga will also be returning for the film. The ensemble cast also includes newcomers Mark Strong, Mélanie Laurent, Jodie Turner-Smith, Kuhoo Verma, Enrique Arce, Tony Goldwyn, Annie Mumolo, and Zurin Villanueva.
