Why did a star-studded romantic comedy struggle to find its audience at the box office?
In short: Released in 2014, Blended reunited Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore for their third collaboration. Despite a $40 million budget and a premise centered on a forced family vacation in South Africa, the film faced a lukewarm reception from critics and a surprisingly slow start at the North American box office.
Directed by Frank Coraci, Blended follows two single parents—Jim, a widower, and Lauren, a divorcée—who endure a disastrous blind date before accidentally booking the same African safari resort for a family vacation. The film features an ensemble cast including Terry Crews and Wendi McLendon-Covey, with principal photography occurring at the Sun City resort in South Africa and additional filming in Georgia, USA. While the narrative explores themes of blended families and parenting, it drew sharp criticism for its tone.
Critical reception was largely negative, with the film holding a 15% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviewers like A. O. Scott criticized its gender politics and depiction of African characters, while others, such as Andrew Barker, noted a lack of trust in the audience, citing a tendency to undermine sincere moments with slapstick humor. Conversely, some reviewers, including Gary Goldstein and Graham Young, found the film to be an enjoyable, old-fashioned romp that avoided excessive crude humor in favor of family-oriented sentimentality.
The film's commercial performance was underwhelming. Analysts had projected a $30 million opening weekend, but it grossed only $14.2 million, finishing behind X-Men: Days of Future Past and Godzilla. Warner Bros. attributed the weak start to favorable weather over the Memorial Day weekend. Ultimately, the film grossed $128 million worldwide against its $40 million budget. Despite the critical divide, audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the production an A− grade, suggesting a disconnect between professional reviewers and the viewing public.
The project underwent minor changes during development; on July 31, 2013, Warner Bros. briefly retitled the film The Familymoon before reverting to the original title. The film also serves as a reunion of sorts, featuring cameo appearances from actors who previously worked with Sandler in The Wedding Singer and 50 First Dates, reinforcing the film's reliance on established comedic chemistry.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Blended (film)
- Also: Blended
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