Adam Sandler Hits The Malls To Cast His New Movie

Posted Friday, April 5, 2002 at 7:10 AM Central

by Heather Koehler

He's producing a new animated musical titled 8 Crazy Nights and Adam Sandler is working over the mall for "characters" and products as stars.

The lastest scheme in product placement comes at audiences in full force in Adam's new movie. 8 Crazy Nights is set in a shopping mall so it is the perfect movie to take advantage of the newest trend. Studios negotiate more than just a plug with retailers. The stores or mascots get cameos with name recognition or even animated characters like the panda for China Express restaurants.

Company reps swear they didn't pay anything for the product placement but claim the marketing it conjures up will be worth close to $100 million.

Adam's movie is a first but word has it 'Foodfight!' is another flick in-the-making using the same tactic. That family comedy will have cameos from Mr. Clean, Uncle Ben, Hostess' Twinkie the Kid and Starkist's Charlie Tuna.

Even though 8 Crazy Nights is a Disney movie, it follows suit with previous Adam Sandler movies like Happy Gilmore and Big Daddy, containing "frequent crude and sexual humor." So the big mouse slapped it with a PG-13 rating.

8 Crazy Nights is due for a Thanksgiving weekend release.