Adan Sandler - why does he attract so much talent to his movies?

Cafe Society
1

The other day in my local video store, I wasn’t able to find a movie I really wanted to see, so I ended up with a deal - three movies, three days, $9. Part of that was Aanger Management. Of course, I knew Nicholson was in it, but the number of cameos /supporting acts from well known (if not always talented) actors was amazing: Woody Harrelson, John Turturro, Marisa Tomei, Harry Dean Stanton, Luis Guzmán, Lynn Thigpen, among others.
And so I checked with whom he had worked in previous projects, and the list expands: Winona Ryder, Steve Buscemi, Harvey Keitel, Reese Witherspoon, Jon Lovitz, Quentin Tarrantino, Kathy Bates, Dan Aykroyd.
Apart from ‘Punch-Drunk Love’ where his one and only note of playing a dofus was cast to fit the movie and actually worked, I don’t see his greatness. For me, he’s on par with Rob Schneider, Martin Lawrence and Jason Biggs. So why do so many people agree to work with him. I doubt that Nicholson needs the money, or that Harvey Keitel really feels comfortable to be in one of these low-IQ vehicles.

Put it another way - I have a hard time seeing Bruce Willis or Ahnold do cameos in the latest dreck-fest by Steven Seagal, so I can’t really understand what makes Sandler interesting to work with.

2

His movies (at least since The Wedding Singer) make tons and tons of money – and probably pay these people lots of money for their bit parts. Also Adam’s a pretty likeable guy and a lot of these actors are his friends.

3

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4

It is a nice check for doing some short, relatively uncomplicated work. Stanley Kubrick/Robert Altman type directors are not likely to get involved with a Sandler vehicle. There is also potential for wide exposure to a young demographic, which an agent will always find attractive.

5

This would be my best guess. The pay is probably irrelevant to most of those actors, and many times the parts are uncredited. I bet most are doing it as a favor. Pure WAG on my part, though.

6

I think Steve Busceimi is a buddy of his considering he tends to show up in quite a few Sandler movies.