Adam Sandler, an amazing natural talent who graduated from Saturday Night Live's renowned school of comedy, has become a Hollywood powerhouse. After striking gold with such juvenile hits as Big Daddy, The Wedding Singer, and Happy Gilmore, Sandler is now one of the highest paid actors in the world.
Though he has an impressive comic range, Sandler is usually cast as a simpleton who struggles to function within society's basic rules - allowing the audience to laugh at an innocent buffoon and his loveable ways. This formula has proven to be a huge commercial success, as with many films that play to the lowest common denominator. However, as with many comedians who find success, Sandler is venturing away from his proven cash cow - probably to prove his worth as an actor. In his newest release, Punch-Drunk Love, he does just that.
The main character, played by Sandler, is a lonely and mentally deranged man named Barry Egan. Barry owns what seems to be a relatively successful business which distributes specialty toilet plungers. However, the movie revolves around Barry's bizarre obsessions and fascinations.
From collecting frequent flier coupons to obsessing over an abandoned little piano, Sandler really seems to be this character. Moreover, when Barry shows bouts of violent aggression born from a bottled-up temper, Sandler really shines.
Equally responsible for the clarity in this film, is the director, Paul Thomas Anderson (Magnolia, Boogie Nights). Throughout the film, we see Barry experiment with phone sex, deal with his nosy and controlling sisters, and display what seems to be an uncharacteristic new propensity to dress up. Intertwined in this conglomeration of bizarre behaviors, is a nice little love story, along with a slew of unique transitions and irrelevant circumstances - all masterfully combined into a disturbing, yet highly palatable, story.
Article comments
1 - Chris Cotner
I can't wait to see this, but don't dismiss the other Adam Sandler films b/c they seem juvenile, well, ok, they are, but it takes a certain amount of talent and smarts to pull off a Billy Madison (the best of the dumb films) or a Happy Gilmore.