For some, weddings are the moment people look forward to their entire lives.
It’s deemed as the moment you finally stop being the responsibility of your parents and instead take and give responsibility to your significant other. The Week Of, starring the comedic geniuses Adam Sandler and Chris Rock, emphasizes the parental separation that comes alongside getting married. Sandler played the unbearably devoted Kenny Lustiger, the father of the bride who stopped at nothing to ensure his daughter’s happiness. In contrast to the father of the groom, Kirby Cordice played by Rock, who was never involved in his son’s life growing up. Instead of trying to mend the broken relationship with his son, Tyler, he attempts to use the easiest way he can to solve anything, with money.
This feel-good film captures the never-ending love and aid parents will forever try to provide for their children, even as they seemingly are drifting away. Throughout the film, Sandler’s character struggles with asking others for help, even when it’s obvious that he desperately needs it. “You can’t be an island, you can always ask for help,” said Maury Ginsberg who plays Jay. It’s important to know it’s okay not being able to do everything alone.
Allison Strong, who plays Sandler’s daughter Sarah, made her movie debut in this film. And what better way to start the journey ahead than to work with Rock and Sandler in a comedy? “Working with Adam, getting to play his daughter, it felt like a reality to me,” said Strong, “he’s so loving and wonderful.”
Whereas Kenny’s Achilles heel is the fact that he tries to fix and provide the impossible for his daughter, Kirby just simply tries to throw money into the situation.“It’s a story about letting his daughter go. He doesn’t have the dynamic anymore of being the only man in her life,” said Roland Buck III, who plays Tyler. “With me and my dad, we were like it’s okay that you missed something in the beginning but now come back. Now we’re bringing you back in, so just be present in that specific moment,” commented Buck III. Knowing that money can’t fix everything was an apparent theme in the movie. As well as also knowing when it’s time to let go. Both parents became so engrossed in their own faults, they lost sight of what was really important, being there for their kids. We asked Rock if he had any advice to anyone who would relate to the parents in the film, “Let it go, you know, they’re your kids, they’re not yours.”
The Week Of is now streaming on Netflix!
(Photo Credit: Monica Schipper/Getty for Netflix)