I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry

This movie is about two firefighters, Larry Valentine (Kevin James) and Chuck Levine (Adam Sandler), who have been friends for a long time. Larry is trying to find a way to fix his pension problem after his wife’s death. His solution is to file as having a domestic-partnership with his best friend Chuck. Chuck would then receive everything that is Larry’s and be responsible for Larry’s children if anything were to happen to Larry.

Although neither man is gay (actually Chuck is obsessed with having sex with women on a regular basis), they both go through with the plan. When their domestic-partnership is challenged, they must see a lawyer, Alex McDonough (Jessica Biel). Chuck is attracted to her and may actually have feelings for her, but she is convinced that both men are gay. Although Chuck and Larry get married and begin living together, they end up having to go to court to “prove” that they are gay.

Morally, this movie is extremely offensive. It supports homosexuality and views it as a laughing matter. There is a scene outside of an AIDS awareness party, where all of the homosexuals are fighting with religious people about their lifestyle. The religious people are basically condemning the gays to hell, and the gays are fighting back. The scene ends with the gays “winning” the argument. This is certainly not the way Christians should approach the homosexuals. They should try to share the truth of Christ in love, with fellow sinners—caring for their eternal destination.

Larry’s son is extremely feminine, and is made fun of by both Chuck and Larry. There are many, many, gay, crude, and perverse jokes throughout the film. Several of the men in the movie are shown in women’s clothing. There is a scene in the firestation showers showing nude men. At the end of the film two men are shown kissing at their wedding.

Throughout the entire movie, perverted and crude language is used—and often directed towards women. Women are shown as sex objects. Multiple girls display a lot of cleavage and other parts of their bodies, and wear extremely revealing shorts or underwear. Twin women at the beginning of the movie fight over Chuck and are dressed very provocatively.

In another scene, Chuck is surrounded by Hooters’ girls. These same girls are later shown at Chuck’s house dressed in lingerie along with Chuck’s female doctor. The girls are all waiting for Chuck to come back to bed. He sends them back to the room while yelling perverted remarks to them. Chuck also yells perverted and disrespectful comments across the street to a woman who is wearing a top that exposes more than it covers, reveals her mid-drift, and wearing extremely small shorts. There is also a scene where Chuck (Adam Sandler) is invited by Alex (Jessica Biel) to feel her chest as she is dressed in her just bra and underwear. In another intimate scene between the two Chuck shows her how he “turns Larry on.”

Having sex outside of marriage with multiple partners is shown as something acceptable in this movie, which as followers of Christ, we know is not right.

The amount of cussing in this film heavy, as is the norm for an Adam Sandler movie. The Lord’s name is also taken in vain—seven “oh my G_d,” “oh G_d,” and “my G_d”—also “swear to G_d,” “G_d_mn,” “for G_d’s sakes,” “oh sweet L_rd.”

It really disappoints me that there are more negative aspects of the movie to write about than good. The only good point that that I noticed was that Chuck loves his best friend so much that he is willing to sacrifice his own reputation to help him.

What happens when one compares this movie to the Bible? Homosexuality is something that is not honoring to God. He created men and women to come together in marriage and to enjoy sex with their spouse. 1 Corinthians 7:1-3 “Let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.” God intended sex to be between a man and a woman within marriage.

Since this movie shows women revealing their bodies, and men obsessing over the way women look, we should realize what the Bible has to say about lust. Matthew 5:27-28 “You have heard that it was said to those of old ‘You shall not commit adultery’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” This movie does not show the consequences for viewing a woman with lustful eyes. Scripture (Matthew 5:29) continues saying, “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish than for your whole body to be cast into hell…”

The Bible also addresses the subject of perverse language. The things we share through words should not be discouraging or demeaning. Ephesians 4:29 “Do not use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”

Violence: None / Profanity: Moderate / Sex/Nudity: Heavy

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.

• Positive
• Neutral
• Negative
• Young people