The Longest Yard (DVD, 2005, Widescreen/ Checkpoint)

A remake of the 1974 Burt Reynold's Classic, The Longest Yard is the story of former NFL quarterback Paul Crew (played by Adam Sandler) who was jailed for point-shaving and leads his fellow inmates in a football game against the wardens (lead by James Cromwell as Warden Hazen). The Longest Yard follows Paul Crew's arrival into jail, his efforts to recruit a mediocre team, and ends with the warden vs. inmates football game. While based on the same premise, the 2005 version of The Longest Yard spins the movie very differently than the 1974 version. Burt Reynold's version was more methodical, more serious and spent time and dialouge around race and emotion. Meanwhile, the 2005 version - evident enough by the casting of comedian Adam Sandler - was designed as an action-comedy from the beginning.

The movie is fast-paced and features a huge cast of celebrities and former NFL personalities and players: Chris Rock, Burt Reynolds, James Cromwell, Nelly, Bill Goldberg, Michael Irvin, Stone Cold Steve Austin, ESPN reporters, etc. Part of the movie's fun is that it doesn't take itself as seriously as the 1974 version - instead, The 2005 Longest Yard moves quickly between football highlights, one-liners and cameos. If you are in the mood for a slower, more emotionally rich movie - the 1974 Longest Yard is your better bet. That said, the 2005 Longest Yard is true to its intentions - a light, funny and exciting football movie. There is more substance than Sandler's previous football film (The Waterboy) and is less dramatic and dark than Any Given Sunday. Unfortunately the football scenes aren't as exciting or intense as Any Given Sunday's - but the last scene (the warden vs. inmate football game) is entertaining and, in terms of realism, again lies somewhere between The Waterboy and Any Given Sunday.

Cons: Adam Sandler is funny - as he normally is - but he's not very believable as quarterback. Consequently, during action scenes, its rather obvious when film is spliced or there is a 'stunt' double. Secondly, this is not Chris Rock's best performance - he has plenty of funny lines, but there is no depth.