Adam Sandler: Master of Mediocrity

Anger Management is the type of flick you take a date to, get some chuckles from, then forget. And that pretty much describes every movie Adam Sandler has ever starred in.

The addition of Jack Nicholson to the cast gives this film a certain level of respectability that, say, Billy Madison lacked. But the humor is of the same sort: penis jokes, bathroom humor, the insane rantings of wildmen, etc. Mr. Sandler is the Peter Pan of Hollywood: a guy in his thirties with the sense of humor of a mildly retarded teenager. (Not that there's anything wrong with that...)

Is it worth seeing? Sure, as long as you don't mind being in a capacity-crowd theater with screaming 14-year olds. And, oddly enough, I don't...

SPOILERS!

This film includes all of the following: bi-sexual porn stars, violence against monks, big dick jokes, little dick jokes, Heather Graham, obese cats, Bobby Knight, and John McEnroe.

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Article Author: RJ Elliott

RJ Elliott is a three-time graduate of the University of Central Florida. His passions in life are sports, politics, and nature. He dislikes daytime television, anti-American dictators, and people who talk like Garrison Keillor. …

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Article comments

  • 1 - Phillip Winn

    Apr 19, 2003 at 10:42 am

    Wow, I certainly can't stay away now!

  • 2 - Phillip Winn

    Apr 19, 2003 at 10:44 am

    Oh, wait. Heather Graham? The kiss of death for any movie. Never mind.

  • 3 - RJ Elliott

    Apr 19, 2003 at 10:51 am

    Hmm, I dunno. I tend to believe her casting as "Rollergirl" was one of the most memorable supporting roles for an actress in the last decade.

    Of course, that could be because I'm one a sick f**k. :-/

  • 4 - Phillip Winn

    Apr 19, 2003 at 11:00 am

    The character of Rollergirl was indeed fascinating. I think it would have been better filled by almost any other actress.

  • 5 - RJ Elliott

    Apr 19, 2003 at 12:00 pm

    I tend to agree. But I hear Jenna Jameson and Tera Patrick were unavailable...

  • 6 - Phillip Winn

    Apr 19, 2003 at 12:18 pm

    Heather Graham reminds me of the old dilemma involving an irresistable force and an immovable object. What would happen if John Cusack and Heather Graham were to appear in a movie together? The very universe might collapse!

  • 7 - Phillip Winn

    Apr 19, 2003 at 12:21 pm

    Er, since every movie with John Cusack in it works, and Heather Graham makes every movie fail, that is.

  • 8 - RJ Elliott

    Apr 19, 2003 at 12:40 pm

    Geez. You're taking more tests than one of Magic Johnson's ex-girlfriends.

  • 9 - RJ Elliott

    Apr 19, 2003 at 12:42 pm

    Oh, sure. Delete all those "test"s and ruin my punch-line...

  • 10 - Tom Johnson

    Apr 22, 2003 at 11:42 am

    I don't think I can ever see Adam Sandler the same again after having seen Punch Drunk Love last year. Hearing that PT Anderson crafted that role around what he thought the real Sandler was like completely changes the way I will forever see Sandler. Anderson was so effective that I'm just sure he's right, that Sandler is as screwed up and and disturbing as his character was. What a movie, and how disappointing to see Sandler slipping back into his typical crap after such an outstanding performance. But not a surprise, unfortunately.

  • 11 - Tom Huntly

    Sep 07, 2003 at 5:50 pm

    I was just wandering if i could have the email address for adam sandler?

  • 12 - the gamer

    Dec 07, 2003 at 6:56 am

    hey not all movies are great but adam adds to the cinema take his flick with damon wayans bulletproof that was awesome i only have one more thing to add those that critisize lack the talent to produce them selves

  • 13 - Eric Olsen

    Dec 07, 2003 at 12:17 pm

    Sandler knows what works for him - a blend of outrage and sentiment - and he has done a remarkable job of showcasing it. I have no idea what the "real" Sandler is - he probably doesn't either.

  • 14 - dietdoc

    Jun 21, 2005 at 6:59 am

    I am getting quite tired of the "crap dumpsters" that tag links to the end of blogcritics.com comments section. I hope the editors can do something to delete these useless, annoying, and misdirected messages. They are really starting to clutter up the board.

  • 15 - DrPat

    Jun 26, 2005 at 11:48 am

    "Begone, thou imp of Satin!"

    [grin]

  • 16 - RJ Elliott

    Jan 20, 2007 at 9:00 am

    Punch Drunk Love was a great flick, I agree. Very unusual role for Sandler...really, for anybody!

  • 17 - Nick Stone

    Sep 23, 2007 at 7:45 pm

    Are right-wing dictators exempt for any reason? I suppose having one as president is a fairly good one.

  • 18 - RJ

    Sep 23, 2007 at 7:58 pm

    Ah, welcome back Nick!

    No, I don't mind right-wing dictators as much as left-wing dictators, although I prefer liberal democracies to either of them. (But YMMV...)

    And if you really think Bush is a "dictator," I think you'll be pleasantly surprised in January of 2009... ;-)

  • 19 - Nick Stone

    Sep 26, 2007 at 12:54 pm

    Welcome back? Don't recall having been here before...I only meant that Bush's election and presidency will not be held up as a textbook example of 'democracy in action' in a hundred years!
    Nothing wrong with dictatorships in principle: in fact, surely they're better than giving every ignorant, festering pleb in the land a say in matters they can barely comprehend? Sorry man, rather veered off the theme of Adam Sandler!

  • 20 - RJ

    Sep 26, 2007 at 4:25 pm

    Oh, I thought your name seemed familiar...nevermind. :-/

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