Honestly, a lot of Sandler's work irritates me. I'd say I've enjoyed about half the comedies (stopped watching the other half after just a few minutes) and never found one of the dramas appealing. And yet there's something about this special that made me keep going, I kept expecting I'd get bored or irritated and switch it off, but no, I made it all the way to the end.
As I say, I think it's that the guy has heart in a way that he's not faking (or faking very very well!) The way he talks about his kids, the way he talks about his wife, you feel the love without feeling the edge of resentment that some comedians bring to those subjects. Whether or not you like Chris Farley (personally I never got the appeal) the way Adam Sandler sings about him tears your heart out. You end up walking away feeling rather more emotion than you expected from a standup show.
As I say, I think it's that the guy has heart in a way that he's not faking (or faking very very well!) The way he talks about his kids, the way he talks about his wife, you feel the love without feeling the edge of resentment that some comedians bring to those subjects. Whether or not you like Chris Farley (personally I never got the appeal) the way Adam Sandler sings about him tears your heart out. You end up walking away feeling rather more emotion than you expected from a standup show.