Funny times to come

New Hampshire native Adam Sandler (above) and a promising cast of cut-ups that includes David Spade, Chris Rock, and Kevin James, are on their way to Boston to shoot a goofy new comedy. To be directed by Dennis Dugan, who's been behind the camera for a string of Sandler films, including "You Don't Mess With the Zohan," "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry," and "Happy Gilmore," the new, still-untitled movie is about a group of guys who return to the town where they grew up. (Sounds a little like Lawrence Kasdan's "The Big Chill," but, hopefully, funnier.) We're told the cast also includes Rob Schneider, Steve Buscemi, and Norm MacDonald. The female leads haven't been set yet, but Salma Hayek's name has been mentioned as a possibility. Dugan was scouting locations here last week, and went to the Celtics-Lakers game with the film's production designer and the screenwriter Fred Wolf, whose credits include the comedies "Joe Dirt" and "Black Sheep." (They're all Lakers fans, so they were pleased with the outcome of the game.) The shoot is expected to start in May and last 66 days, which is longer than some other recent made-in-Massachusetts comedies.

Actress Eliza Dushku was back in Boston over the weekend. The Watertown native, whose new show, "Dollhouse," debuts Friday, hosted a well-attended fund-raiser for Camp Hale at the Greatest Bar. For over a century, the Boston-based camp has given city kids, including Dushku's dad, Philip, a chance to camp in the White Mountains and Lakes Region of New Hampshire.

"ER" actress Gloria Reuben was at the Cyclorama Saturday with 300 or so other supporters of South Africa Partners. Honored at the event was Dr. Helene Gayle, president and CEO of CARE USA and one of the world's leading poverty and AIDS activists. . . . Considering that his wife, Terry, cochaired the event, we're not surprised Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton attended the Franciscan Hospital for Children's annual Friends Ball Friday. (Hamilton donated several items to the auction, including an autographed guitar.) Also there were hospital CEO Paul DellaRocco, Kraft Group COO and Pats president Jonathan Kraft, and flack George Regan. . . . Congrats to American Seasons chef Michael LaScola and wife Orla Murphy-LaScola on their new baby girl, Roan Tamas LaScola, who weighed in at 8 pounds and 7 ounces. . . . Artist Shepard Fairey didn't spend all weekend in jail; he ate dinner at Radius one night.

With a big assist from wife Tonya, "Bringing Down the House" author Ben Mezrich celebrated his 40th birthday with a bash at Minibar at the Copley Square Hotel Saturday. The overflow crowd included venture capitalist David Fialkow and wife Nina, former Bruin Gord Kluzak, best-selling author Joe Finder, Boston Ballet's Mikko Nissinen, "21" producer Dana Brunetti, "Style Boston" creators Anna Cheshire Levitan and Terri Stanley, "TV Diner" executive producer Jenny Johnson, designers Michael De Paulo and Sam Mendoza, publicist Marlo Fogelman, and Mezrich's mouthpiece Barry Rosenberg, who wouldn't tell us much about Mezrich's next, nearly completed project, a book about Mark Zuckerberg and the other founders of Facebook.

So much for Max Drummey's marriage to Peaches Geldof. The unhappy couple issued a statement over the weekend announcing that while they look forward to "a future as good friends," their marriage is most definitely over. Drummey, a 23-year-old Jamaica Plain native who's part of the pop duo Chester French, married Bob Geldof's 19-year-old daughter in Las Vegas on Aug. 5. The statement said: "After much soul-searching we have made the mutual decision to end our marriage and have agreed to go our separate ways. Our parting is amicable and both of us still respect and care about each other immensely."

Curt Schilling could barely contain himself after Sports Illustrated broke the news about Alex Rodriguez's alleged positive steroid test in 2003. Big Schill was going back and forth with pinstripe partisans on NYYFans.com and he also posted an item on his own site, 38Pitches.com. "I'd be all for the 104 positives being named, and the game moving on if that is at all possible," Schilling wrote. "And before anyone asks, I'll make it clear: My name will not appear on any list of positive tests. I've never tested positive for steroids or HGH, and I've never taken steroids or HGH in my life, ever. You don't need to call the union, or an agent to verify that."

Bond at the Langham Hotel is quickly becoming a hot spot. San Antonio Spurs Roger Mason and Kurt Thomas, in town to play the Celts yesterday, dropped by Friday night, and C's superfan Donnie Wahlberg checked out the new restaurant and lounge Saturday. (Spurs Manu Ginobli and Fabricio Oberto were at Via Matta.) Familiar faces at yesterday's Celtics game included Sox CEO Larry Lucchino, Ellen Pompeo's husband, Chris Ivery, retired NBA player Cuttino Mobley, and Wahlberg, just back from Europe, where New Kids on the Block played several shows.

Names can be reached at names@globe.com or 617-929-8253.