We saw a trailer for the new Adam Sandler-Don Cheadle movie Reign Over Me just a couple weeks ago at a movie theater right by Times Square and — wouldn’t you know it — they left out a pretty significant detail about the film — specifically, the fact that Adam Sandler’s character apparently lost his entire family on Sept. 11.
As far as I could tell, Sandler plays this Down and Out in Beverly Hills-era Nick Nolte (remember the bum sex scene? hilarious!) sort of guy who reconnects with Cheadle’s character and shows Cheadle how to live more like the college students they once were. Or something like that. In the process, Cheadle’s wife looks pissed that Cheadle stays out all night with him.
See though, in the trailer, they mentioned that Sandler’s family died but never once mentioned that they, you know, perished on 9/11. It makes Sandler’s character look less crazy — and makes Cheadle’s wife look like a big harpie! Hey, Woman, let Cheadle out — Sandler’s a 9/11 Widower!
So, question: Was this non-9/11 related trailer only shown in New York and, if so, did Sony Pictures intend to shield New York audiences from the emotional pain of hearing about a 9/11 movie? If so, who do they think they are? Oliver Stone? Paul Freakin’ Greengrass?
Followup question: This looked like a much different movie when Sandler’s family didn’t perish on 9/11. Watching the trailer I was thinking, you know, garden-variety car crash or something. And I was also kind of like, “Dude — get over it.” But throw 9/11 in there and — oh wow, you’re all a 9/11 Widower . . . ooh — impressive!
Exit question: How cheap a writing technique is this?
Exit exit question: Did the studio know that New York audiences would see this as cheap-and-easy heartstring pulling, so they adjusted the trailer accordingly?
Just asking.
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Now Playing: Episode 355
Democrats in Denver, Republicans in St. Paul, and Iraqis in Anbar.
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I also saw the trailer in the theater, I think during Volver, and there was no mention of the 9/11 thing. But then I saw the ad on TV last night, too (during LOST, maybe?) and was taken aback by the 9/11 thing.
So the NY-audiences theory is out, but I definitely buy the idea that test audiences were responding to the 9/11 widower idea and so Sony started amping it up in the marketing. Very cheap.
Also — any ideas why the costume/makeup people made up Adam Sandler to look eerily like a 1970s-era Bob Dylan? It’s creepy.