This blog post explores how ‘50 First Dates’ uses the premise of amnesia to reveal the enduring nature of love and the essence of emotion, and the depth its narrative creates.
Why I Love the Movie ‘50 First Dates’
One of my favorite films is the 2004 movie ‘50 First Dates’. The main reason I love this film is its warm perspective on love. Like most romantic comedies, this film doesn’t stray far from the typical genre conventions. That is, it faithfully follows the standard formula of overcoming all obstacles to reach a happy ending, showing no particular deviation. However, the reason this film stands out distinctly to me compared to other romantic comedies is clear: it’s because of its ending, which feels both fresh and somewhat shocking. While the film culminates in a happy ending where the two protagonists overcome various obstacles to find fulfillment, the manner of this conclusion differs somewhat in tone from the typical Hollywood-style romantic comedy happy ending.
The film centers on the love story between a woman (Drew Barrymore) who suffers from short-term memory loss due to an accident, forgetting everything the next day, and a man (Adam Sandler) who falls head over heels for her at first sight. They overcome various hardships and reach marriage, the most typical and ultimate happy ending one would expect in a romantic comedy. At this point, most viewers naturally assume that the woman’s condition must have been cured, given that their marriage was possible. However, the film’s final scene shatters this expectation in an instant. Despite the outward appearance of happiness through marriage, the woman’s short-term memory loss remains. The man begins each day by playing a videotape to explain that day’s reality and past memories to his wife. In other words, the man chose marriage knowing she still suffered from the condition.
This development certainly leaves room for criticism from some audiences and critics who find the ending somewhat contrived. Indeed, many film critics who expressed disappointment with this movie cited the contrived nature of this ending as their reason. Nevertheless, the reason I feel affection for this film and even rank it among my favorites is precisely because it faithfully follows the basic formula of a Hollywood romantic comedy while attempting a kind of deviation and subversion at the very last moment. Of course, the fact that this departure is confined solely to the ending could be pointed out as a weakness of the film. Nevertheless, compared to other romantic comedies that are consistently stale and formulaic from start to finish, it feels much fresher. Furthermore, the ending may feel shocking to some viewers. In fact, I recall being quite shocked by the unexpected twist when I first saw this film. This shock compels reflection on the reality that love in this era has lost its essence, flowing into instant, disposable love. For this reason, the film deserves high praise.
Moreover, rather than forcing the entire narrative in one direction solely for the sake of a radical ending, the film faithfully captures the genre characteristics audiences expect from a romantic comedy—namely, the emotional fantasy sparked by the protagonists’ love and the humor sprinkled throughout the film. Of course, the film’s humor may be perceived by some viewers as fitting and appropriate within the cinematic context, while others might dismiss it as mere toilet humor. However, the fact that even these elements are seamlessly integrated into the film is clearly a strength.
Ultimately, the film’s greatest charm lies in its fresh and unconventional happy ending. The unique facets of the characters revealed throughout the journey to that conclusion, combined with the appropriately crafted humorous atmosphere, give the film’s overall tone a warm and human quality. That is likely why I enjoy this film so much.
‘50 First Dates’ Movie Narrative Summary
Henry Roth (Adam Sandler) is a veterinarian who cares for marine animals in Hawaii by day, but by night, he’s notorious as a womanizer who relentlessly pursues non-local female tourists. One day, he sees Lucy Whitmore (Drew Barrymore) in a restaurant and falls instantly in love. His playboy persona vanishes instantly, and he transforms into a devoted man, like a sunflower turning toward her. Completely captivated at first sight, Henry successfully wins her affection on their first meeting and even manages to get a date with Lucy.
However, when Henry meets Lucy again at the agreed location the next day, he faces an unexpected situation. Lucy doesn’t recognize him at all. Instantly, Henry is mistaken for a stranger and accused of being a pervert. As he panics, the restaurant owner tells him Lucy’s story. A year ago, an accident left Lucy with short-term memory loss; she forgets everything from the previous day once a new day begins. Learning all this, Henry nevertheless finds himself genuinely falling in love with Lucy and begins making every heartbreaking effort to be with her.
Meanwhile, Lucy’s brother and father learn of Henry’s actions toward Lucy and, fearing the pain she might suffer, sternly warn him to stay away. But Henry, already deeply in love, persistently tries to meet her. Moved by his unwavering devotion, Lucy’s father eventually permits Henry to see her. Henry then begins showing Lucy a videotape every morning, detailing her accident and illness, helping her understand and accept her reality. Through this process, Lucy also comes to love Henry deeply, and the two share happy times together.
However, Lucy realizes her illness is causing Henry pain too, and ultimately chooses a painful farewell for his sake. Henry leaves everything behind and sets sail for the ocean, pursuing his long-held dream of sailing. But upon hearing from Lucy’s father that Lucy hums the song they always shared whenever she meets Henry, Henry becomes convinced she is beginning to remember him and returns to Lucy. Yet Lucy still doesn’t remember Henry. She says she feels confused, constantly recalling a face she can’t identify. Against a backdrop of countless canvases filled with Henry’s face, the two share a kiss.
One day, after waking up, Lucy discovers a videotape labeled “Good Morning, Lucy” on the table. Playing the tape, she hears news of her accident, scenes from her wedding, and a message telling her it’s cold outside, to put on a coat and come out for breakfast. Lucy pulls back the curtain and looks out the window, where the vast, snowy landscape of Alaska unfolds before her. Stepping outside, her young daughter runs to hug Lucy, and Henry kisses her cheek. Beyond them, Lucy’s father is fishing from a boat. The film ends with this image of their happiness.
Frame Analysis of a Scene from ‘50 First Dates’
Among the film’s numerous scenes, the one I selected for frame analysis is the ending scene. Strictly speaking, the scene immediately preceding the ending is also organically connected to it, so I will include this part in my frame analysis. The reason for this choice is the same as why I consider this film my favorite work. It is precisely this scene that embodies the film’s greatest charm and defining feature: its fresh happy ending. With that, I will now begin the frame analysis of this scene in earnest.
Henry and Lucy reunite emotionally. The lighting illuminating them at this moment is key lighting, and the large window between them fully fulfills its visible function only under this key lighting. The camera frames them in a two-shot while simultaneously capturing their expressions and gestures in a medium shot. However, the two soon move toward each other in the center of the frame and share a kiss. The camera captures this in a full shot, extending the emotional resonance of the scene. Then, as this kiss shot fades out, Lucy, asleep on the bed, fills the frame.
Lucy wakes up, gets out of bed, and discovers a videotape on the table, which she plays. The video screen shows a newspaper article reporting Lucy’s accident, followed by a close-up of Lucy’s shocked face in a double exposure. Lucy then walks toward the window, pulls back the drawn curtains, and at that very moment, the screen zooms out to reveal the vast, snowy landscape of Alaska.
Then the scene cuts. Lucy, wearing a coat, steps out onto the ship’s deck. As she appears, her young daughter runs to her and burrows into her arms, while her husband Henry gently kisses Lucy on the cheek. Meanwhile, her father is fishing on the deck. A dissolve then occurs from the shot of Lucy holding her daughter, as the camera pans out, zooming away to reveal the entire ship.
The scene fades out, followed by a final shot of seals kissing each other. The film then fades out once more, ending quietly yet leaving a powerful afterimage.
An Interpretive Consideration of ‘50 First Dates’
This film shares thematic common ground with other works in its use of amnesia as a central motif. Among films that use amnesia as a central device, there is “Memento,” which deals with short-term memory loss, and the Korean film “My Sassy Girl” (though strictly speaking, the protagonist in this film suffers not from amnesia but from memory decline due to Alzheimer’s disease). Like “50 First Kisses,” these works all advance their narratives by establishing protagonists afflicted with amnesia. They share the common ground that this memory loss serves as both the direct cause of the protagonist(s)’ adversity and the key element for resolving the problem.
However, while the two films mentioned above share thematic context with this film in terms of subject matter, I will not directly compare them to it. Instead, I choose to compare it to the film “Groundhog Day” (1992), which shares common ground not in the subject matter of short-term memory loss itself, but in its structural aspect of the same reality repeating for whatever reason. The reason I specifically chose “Groundhog Day” as a comparison is that, as noted earlier, many film critics explicitly and directly contrast “First Kiss Only 50 Times” with “Groundhog Day.” Even critics who gave this film favorable reviews have judged that, compared to “Groundhog Day,” “First Kiss 50 Times” lacks depth and falls short in quality.
Having seen “Love’s Black Hole” once before, I recently watched it again. And I firmly believe this film, like “First Kiss at Fifty,” remains a masterpiece that still resonates deeply within the heart and delivers a moving experience that brings a lump to the throat, even upon repeated viewings. However, it would be unfair to devalue “50 First Dates” solely because “Groundhog Day” possesses relatively greater depth. This is because, for some viewers, even if it doesn’t completely surpass “Groundhog Day,” “50 First Dates” still holds its own depth regarding love and life.
Just as Phil (Bill Murray) in “Groundhog Day” experiences a repeating Groundhog Day, learning to care for others and grasp the true meaning of love, This film, too, starkly reveals our distorted self-portrait. Through Henry, who must endlessly prove his existence and sincere love each day due to his beloved Lucy’s devastating short-term memory loss, it exposes how even love—humanity’s highest value—is being swept away by the trends of our modern society, which demands instant solutions, degenerating into instant love. Thus, the film poses a fundamental question to the audience: What is true love? What is the essence of love?
Finally, the film presents a happy yet distinctly realistic ending (though even this could arguably be seen as closer to a fantasy of love than reality), leaving the answer to these questions to the viewers themselves.
