A surprisingly faithful remake of the well-regarded 1974 prison pigskin movie, "The Longest Yard" trades Burt Reynolds for Adam Sandler and goes for the broader attack with generally pleasing results. [...] you have to be willing to buy Sandler as a former pro football player -- an MVP no less -- and while he's been convincing in the past as a waterboy and even a hockey player turned-golfer, this one's a taller order. For Sandler fans who haven't exactly been thrilled with some of his more grown-up choices of late, like "Spanglish," his latest marks a return to the kind of vehicle that scores big points at the boxoffice while still showcasing the comedian in a more mature light.

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