What was once mere speculation and popular opinion has now been confirmed: a study released last week by the Entirely Real Institute of Humour and Evolution has produced shocking information regarding Adam Sandler films and the reactions they elicit from viewers.
After taking a cross section of great apes — from chimpanzees to gorillas and orangutans — and exposing them to the entirety of Mr. Sandler’s filmography, researchers discovered that although the apes’ enthusiasm began the trial at a relative high, it suffered a substantial drop-off as they were exposed to more recent films.
“We witnessed abnormally high levels of enjoyment during Sandler films from the ‘90s,” said Marie Thomas, a research assistant for the Entirely Real Institute. “It wasn’t until around the early 2000s that things for the apes really started to go downhill.”
It’s reported that Mr. Deeds — a film that the researchers agree is an “overall feel-good film” and “a lot of fun, if you just lower your expectations” — marked the first instance of an ape admitting it wasn’t Sandler’s best work. Shortly after that, the apes began to show signs of confusion, followed by anger. The third and final emotion for most of the apes was depression.
During the screening of Jack and Jill, an orangutan named Sammy pointed at the screen, looked to her handler, and signed, “Why?” During the 2014 film Blended, a gorilla named Chico signed, “A bit lowbrow, isn’t it?” with an ironically hilarious gesture, which included him slapping his own forehead before dragging the hand down his face. A bonobo named Henry watched Grown Ups and fell asleep, waking up during Grown Ups 2 and signing, “I dreamed we were not doing this. It was a good dream. How many sight gags did I miss?”
“We set out to see how far back our ideas of humour go,” explained Thomas. “We know what Roger Ebert thinks of Adam Sandler movies, but what about chimps? Turns out they have fairly similar opinions. We’re fascinated by the fact that they will laugh for 15 minutes when they throw feces at each other, but That’s My Boy got nothing.”
This isn’t the first time that the Entirely Real Institute of Humour and Evolution has been in the headlines this year. Back in February, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) blasted the organization and this particular study for its “unethical treatment of great apes,” saying that it could not condone any operation that subjected a sentient life to Click, no matter how promising the film’s premise may sound.
“These are some sick people doing some sick things,” said PETA member Robert Rosenberg in a video that went out in March. “I speak for myself and the rest of the organization when I say we’ll be doing everything in our power to stop what’s being done to these poor, unfortunate animals.”
Though Mr. Sandler was too busy producing and starring in Grown Ups 5 to respond to The Peak’s phone calls, it can be speculated that he’s still richer than any one of us will ever be and will probably continue making awful movies starring all of his friends, regardless of what PETA or the rest of the world has to say about it.
