Happy Madison, Adam Sandler's production company, has traditionally been recognized as the creative home for films starring Sandler and his circle of Gen X friends, including actors like Rob Schneider, David Spade, and Kevin James. However, a notable shift has occurred within the company, moving from productions centered around his long-time collaborators to projects increasingly featuring his own family. This evolution has led Happy Madison to become an unexpected yet thriving platform for female-directed movies that explore the multifaceted teen girl experience.

This new direction was notably highlighted by Sunny Sandler, Adam Sandler's daughter, who received praise for her portrayal of the challenges of middle school life in the delightful film "You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah." Sunny is also slated to further explore the genre with an upcoming high school musical, "Don’t Say Good Luck," later this year.

Continuing this familial and thematic progression, Sadie Sandler, Sunny's older sister, now takes center stage in Netflix’s latest offering, "Roommates." This film amiably, albeit somewhat "half-baked," delves into the intricate highs and lows of the freshman college experience. The narrative structure of "Roommates" is characterized by its ambition to be two movies in one, contributing to both its strengths and its perceived weaknesses.

The movie opens with a remarkably absurd and memorable scene: a public and emotionally charged breakup between two contemporary college roommates, played by Storm Reid and Ivy Wolk, unfolding dramatically on their dorm lawn. Following this chaotic display, which includes screaming about personal hygiene products and air fryers being thrown from a third-story window, the duo is summoned to the office of the Dean Of Student Life, portrayed by Saturday Night Live's Sarah Sherman. To impart a lesson and deter future conflicts, the Dean opts to recount a cautionary tale about another pair of troubled roommates whose initial bond of friendship eventually deteriorated into a much more contentious relationship.

This flashback introduces Devon, played by Sadie Sandler, an academically brilliant but largely friendless high school graduate who is determined to make her college years a period of personal triumph and social flourishing. Despite her initial "try-hard" demeanor not immediately paying off during a pre-college bonding excursion, Devon soon forms a strong connection with Celeste (Chloe East), a character defined by her nonchalant coolness. Their quick friendship leads them to readily agree to share a dorm room in the fall. However, once they officially move in, what initially seem like typical minor roommate annoyances—such as borrowing clothes without asking or using headphones at 2 AM—gradually escalate into more significant red flags. These alarming developments include Celeste’s inappropriate enmeshment with Devon’s family and a serious breach of trust when Celeste hooks up with a guy in Devon’s bed, illustrating the rapid decline of their friendship.