I imagine one day one of Adam Sandler’s daughters was having a birthday, and they mentioned something about wanting to be in the movies. Seeing as how Sandler is that kind of guy, he cracked and gave his daughters their very own movie. I’m assuming he also promised them a career too, like the Apatows. It’s sad that in a year where we were given “Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret.,” Sandler offers up his own version of the coming of age teen tale, except with major discrepancies.
“Are you There God? It’s Me Margaret.” was about a lower middle class teen girl trying to find her place in the world. “You Are So Not Invited…” is about an affluent upper class teen trying to—create the perfect bat mitzvah. Because heaven forbid she goes to high school with less than four friends.
Burdgeoning teen Stacy Friedman and Lydia are BFFs who’ve always dreamed about having epic bat mitzvahs together. However, things start to go comically awry when a popular boy and middle school drama threatens their friendship and their rite of passage.
“You are So Not Invited…” is very much Sandler and Happy Madison’s idea of what a coming of age teen comedy is. I would love to see an interesting comedy about bat mitzvahs, the Jewish faith, and the experience of turning thirteen. “You are So Not Invited…” is not that movie. Not by a long shot. It’s an often shallow, superficial, and unfunny tale of a hopelessly one dimensional young girl whose priorities are everywhere but on what’s really important. Her parents aren’t much help either. Idina Menzel makes a forgettable appearance as Stacy’s mom Bree, meanwhile Sandler makes sure to have at least a hand full of scenes where he can be Adam Sandler, playing his daughters’ affable, and agreeable dad.
“You are So Not Invited…” bears all the unfortunate hallmarks of a Happy Madison movie (there’s a painfully recurring gag about a party DJ named DJ Schmuley! Get it?!), and is rarely concerned with telling an interesting story based around fleshed out characters, and relatable conflict. Sonny Sandler is pretty mediocre as Stacy, while real life older sister Sadie Sandler—who plays—um—Stacy’s older sister Ronnie, is slightly more charming, but only really plays up the supporting role. The only stand out among the cast is Samantha Lorrain as Stacy’s best friend Lydia who is gradually blossoming in to a popular girl, much to Stacy’s horror. Thank goodness Sandler spares us Rob Schneider.
Truth be told neither of the Sandlerses are terrible in the movie, they just lack the inherent charisma and talent to lead this kind of movie. It’s too bad because it’d be great to see more movies of this ilk. Plus, I love a good coming of age movie. “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah” is so not one of them.
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