Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
Recently divorced mom Lauren and widowed dad Jim let their friends push them into a blind date, which goes disastrously wrong. Unsurprisingly, neither wants to see the other ever again. However, fate intervenes when both Jim and Lauren, unbeknownst to each other, purchase one-half of the same vacation package at a South African resort for families, during spring break. They and their children are forced to share the same romantic suite and participate in a slew of family activities together.
Blended is a fairly formulaic Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore rom-com that doesn't stray far from genre conventions. The plot relies on a contrived setup — two strangers sharing the same vacation package — and hits predictable beats throughout. The leads (Sandler and Barrymore) have genuine chemistry from their previous collaborations, lifting the acting above the material, but the supporting cast is inconsistent. The South African location photography provides some visual appeal and energy, giving cinematography a modest boost. Novelty is low; the film largely recycles the blended-family rom-com formula without a distinctive voice or fresh perspective. The ending resolves exactly as expected with no surprises. It's a comfortable, watchable crowd-pleaser that sits squarely in average-to-below-average territory.