Give Adam Sandler a break — let him stretch

The transformation of Tom Hanks
Though there are probably several, the one actor that I can think of who made a complete 180-degree transformation from actor known to making us laugh to one who can bring us to tears is Tom Hanks.

Though it’s easy to forget now, Hanks began his career in the sitcom “Bosom Buddies” (dressed in drag, no less) and then in the winning comedies “Splash” and “Bachelor Party.” He could’ve easily stayed on that path but after starring in a slew of mediocre comedies like “The Money Pit,” and “Joe Versus the Volcano,” and then megahits such as “Sleepless in Seattle” and “A League of Their Own,” he decided he would dedicate himself down the dramatic path.

So along came “Philadelphia,” “Forrest Gump” and “Saving Private Ryan” — with “Apollo 13” in there as well. Granted, not all actors wanting to make this transition get the benefit of working with writers and directors that have the caché of Jonathan Demme, Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg, respectively, but it was a move, nonetheless, that could’ve backfired.

Audiences are now willing to view Hanks as an actor who, with the right material, of course, can do any genre.

Will they say the same about Sandler in the years to come? At this point, it’s impossible to guess, but here’s hoping that with enough money in the bank to last several lifetimes, he won’t feel obligated to keep making us laugh. I would prefer a good cry myself.

Stuart Levine is a senior editor at Variety. He can be reached at .

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