Remember Murder Mystery, the American comedy-mystery Netflix film in 2019? Directed by Kyle Newacheck (who directed a few episodes of Community and Parks and Recreation) and written by James Vanderbilt (Zodiac, The Amazing Spiderman series), it starred big faces of the nineties’ romantic comedies – Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. A sequel to that has been in production since January this year.
Aniston, 53, needs no introduction since her F.R.I.E.N.D.S. debut, which lasted for 10 years. She then went on to do a lot of other romantic comedies like We’re the Millers, Horrible Bosses (1&2), Marley and Me, etc.
Adam Sandler, 55, has also done his share of romantic comedies like Billy Madison, Blended, 50 First Dates, etc. He also did serious genres like Uncut Gems and Hustle. He lent his voice to animated movies like Hotel Transylvania 2 and Pixels.
Murder Mystery series
1. Murder Mystery 1
The Plot
In the Murder Mystery 1 movie, Sandler played the role of a New York cop Nick Spitz and Jennifer acted as his wife, Audrey Spitz. She was a hairdresser by profession and was obsessed with murder mystery novels. The movie begins with Nick lying to his wife about being promoted to Detective in N.Y.P.D. and about planning a European vacation.
However, they board a plane where they meet billionaire Charles Cavendish (played by Luke Evans). He invites the couple to attend a wedding on his family yacht. We meet a wide range of characters there, and soon one of them drops dead (the first one in a series of murders).
The couple tries to unearth who the killer is while trying to prove their innocence to Inspector De La Croix as he suspects the Americans! It is a classic lighthearted whodunit sprinkled with comedic bits. It is not one of those films that stays with you after the ending but is perfect for a relaxing night in with takeout.
The leads build believable chemistry between a couple together for 15 years. Sandler is fun to watch in his mustache, and Aniston is a delight on screen.
It got four nominations for the People’s Choice Award and won one in the Favorite Comedic Movie category. Also boasted of nominations for Teen Choice Awards.
You guys are REALLY into big boats, billionaires, and murder… Your choice for #TheComedyMovie is #MurderMystery! #PCAs pic.twitter.com/Ja4WTIii9D
— People's Choice (@peopleschoice) November 11, 2019
2. Murder Mystery 2
In the new sequel, the director has changed to Jeremy Garelick (Best. Worst. Weekend. Ever.), with James Vanderbilt still the writer. It is slated to release sometime next year in 2023, as they just wrapped up filming in April 2022 in Paris. But there has been no confirmation about the release date yet.
Sandler and Aniston will reprise their roles as the Spitz couple. Adeel Akhtar as the Maharaja and John Kani as Colonel Ulenga are also expected to return. Since it will be a new mystery for the crime-loving couple, we can expect a host of new characters. Actors like Mark Strong, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Kuhoo Verma have joined, among many others.
Murder Mystery 2: Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler Set to Return for Sequel to Hit Netflix Movie https://t.co/8ORwH77mn6 via @TVLine
— Mark Valdron 🇨🇦🇺🇦☮️ 💉x4 (@FerL67) September 26, 2021
First Movie Together: Just Go With It
Before this, Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston had starred only in one other movie Just Go With It. Directed by Dennis Dugan, it also starred Brooklyn Decker (Grace and Frankie, Ugly Betty) and Nick Swardson (Grown Ups). Nicole Kidman and Dave Matthews came in for cameos.
The Plot
The first Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston movie together: Just Go With It. Where Sandler plays Daniel Maccabee, a plastic surgeon who lies to women about being in a bad marriage to sleep with them. His tricks are only known to his assistant Katherine Murphy, a divorced mother of two (played by Aniston). The movie follows the plotline where Daniel meets a woman named Palmer (Decker) and wants to marry her, but due to his slate of lies, now Katherine and her kids have to act as his family. By the end, Danny realizes that he is in love with Katherine and not Palmer and tries to win her back.
Just Go With It. Still a favorite, and perhaps my favorite Adam Sandler movie. pic.twitter.com/iZGEQ8CvCE
— Chelsea Balli (@chelseatwobows) November 10, 2022
Was Just Go With It a flop or a hit?
It didn’t garner many positive reviews from critics. Just Go With It was rated two stars by common sense media and one by Rotten Tomatoes. It also got nominated for Golden Raspberry Awards (a satirical ceremony and parody award function where the worst-perceived cinemas are awarded, informally called the Razzies). It won two Razzies for Worst Director and Worst Actor!
Real-life chemistry of Adam Sandler and Jennifer Anniston
Despite the fact that the pair starred in only two movies (released) till now, both the actors have a very close friendship. In an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live where they both appeared together, they spoke about how they have been friends for over 30 years and are even close with each other’s families.
Before their first movie, they were supposed to work together in Saturday Night Live but Aniston had turned down the role. That was the first time they met, in LA in the SNL writing room.
Dating or not?
Despite flying rumors, Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston have never dated each other. Adam Sandler has been happily married to Jacqueline “Jackie” Sandler (née Titone) since 2003 and has two daughters with her.
In an interview with Associated Press, Adam Sandler said that Jen teases him about their kissing scenes in Murder Mystery, where they play a married couple.
“She loves it. She sends me texts, “Nine days till kissing — here it comes.”
The sweetest part is how supportive Sandler’s wife is of her husband. Adam joked with Access Hollywood that his wife would be there to witness the kissing scenes and would egg him to do his best!
“There’s a lot of that, yes. My film kisses are never as good as they possibly could be. It’s not just her, I actually feel bad for whoever I have to kiss. I’m like ‘They don’t want to be doing this.’ But I do it. Jennifer is one of my closest friends and Jackie’s closest friends. So, she’s like ‘Would you give Jennifer some sort of good time with that kiss please?’”
Jennifer Aniston had married and divorced twice (Justin Theroux and Brad Pitt). Currently, there is no official news of her dating anyone new. She told Sirius XM, “No one of importance has hit my radar yet, but I think it’s time.”
However, no matter who Jen decides to date, there is no chance of her and Sandler being together as they have a very comfortable sibling-friendship that is far from anything romantic!
Murder Mystery 2- How and When to tune in?
Despite not starring in many movies, the audience seems to love their pairing. This movie is slated to be released as a Netflix movie in 2023. If you want to watch it on a bigger screen, you must use Netflix on Chromecast. Go to your browser video settings and set up Chromecast after downloading the Google Home app. Then, you can stream content from your phone to any monitor or screen.
Murder Mystery 2: Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler Set to Return for Sequel to Hit Netflix Movie https://t.co/8ORwH77mn6 via @TVLine
— Mark Valdron 🇨🇦🇺🇦☮️ 💉x4 (@FerL67) September 26, 2021
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Which Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston Movies were shot in Africa?
Ans: Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston’s Movie shot in Africa was Just Go with It. It is about a plastic surgeon who lies to women about being in a bad marriage to sleep with them.
Q2: Which is Adam Sandler Jennifer Aniston’s vacation Movie?
Ans: Adam Sandler Jennifer Aniston’s vacation Movie is Murder Mystery. It is a classic lighthearted whodunit sprinkled with comedic bits. It is not one of those films that stays with you after the ending but is perfect for a relaxing night in with takeout.
Q3: Which Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler movies are on Netflix?
Ans: Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler’s movies on Netflix are Murder Mystery and Just Go with It. The former is a classic lighthearted whodunit sprinkled with comedic bits and the latter is about a plastic surgeon who lies to women about being in a bad marriage to sleep with them.
