(r#53)
Anger Management is more than just another clone of "Happy Gilmore", and it avoids being the stereotypical, mindless Sandler comedy because of some interesting ideas and themes, an unpredictable twist, and a superb cast (including the hilarious cameos). David Buznik (Sandler himself) is a man of implosive anger. Ever since having his privates laughed at by the love of his life as a child, he's been subconsciously as well as consciously suppressing his anger while everyone from his boss to his girlfriend Linda's (a cute Marisa Tomei) best friend, the well-equipped Andrew (Allen Covert) push him around. One day Dave is arrested for assaulting a stewardess on a flight and assigned to Anger Management, a self-help group lead by the completely insane Dr. Buddy Rydell (Nicholson at his finest, you can tell he's really enjoying himself). Buddy's healing methods appear a bit unorthodox, to say the least, but will they help David let go of his anger?
I can't say I'm much of a fan of Adam Sandler in movies like Happy Gilmore or Billy Madison. In movies of that type he doesn't have a lot of funny material to work with, and his overacting is more embarrassing than funny (I know I'm in the minority here). In "Anger" he's perfectly suited for his role. Every staggering, wooden sentence he utters perfectly describes what kind of character he is and it is impossible not to feel for him at times. We've all been frustrated in more than one situation in which we can't say what we really feel, and Sandler perfectly translates this to the screen; intentionally or not, it works.
Of course it is the legendary Jack himself who dominates the screen, and who is the main reason to see this movie. While other screen giants of the seventies and eighties seem to slip into obscurity over time (Robert De Niro hasn't been in anything really good since Jackie Brown, for example, and when Christopher Walken and Pacino have been reduced to cameos in Gigli, something is seriously wrong), Nicholson continues to star in unforgettable movies even as he gets older. The highly enjoyable and meaningful About Schmidt comes to mind, and I'm extremely happy to see he's going to work with Martin Scorcese in the upcoming The Departed, which comes out this very year. Jack is simply doing what he does best in "Anger Management" and his intensity is what really carries the film. He gets some of the best lines of his career, specifically the "implosive-explosive" speech and the classic "I feel pretty" sequence. As far as I'm concerned, this is one of the highlights of Nicholson's, and *especially* Sandler's, career and although far from being as good as The Shining or Punch-Drunk Love, "Management" is great fun with enough intelligence and wit to satisfy most viewers, as well as a bit of the usual lowbrow Sandler comedy.
The corny ending at the stadium aside, the film is fun from start to finish, if you can stand watching David Buznik go through all kinds of social torture at the hands of Dr. Rydell. A great supporting cast (John Turturro, Luis Guzmán, Kurt Fuller) and a myriad of cameos, including John McEnroe, Heather Graham, Woody Harrelson, Rudy Guiliani and Harry Dean Stanton are just icing on the cake. I don't understand why so many people disliked this movie - how can you not laugh at a Woody Harrelson, in drag, referring to Nicholson as "Mr. Eyebrows"?
Anger Management is more than just another clone of "Happy Gilmore", and it avoids being the stereotypical, mindless Sandler comedy because of some interesting ideas and themes, an unpredictable twist, and a superb cast (including the hilarious cameos). David Buznik (Sandler himself) is a man of implosive anger. Ever since having his privates laughed at by the love of his life as a child, he's been subconsciously as well as consciously suppressing his anger while everyone from his boss to his girlfriend Linda's (a cute Marisa Tomei) best friend, the well-equipped Andrew (Allen Covert) push him around. One day Dave is arrested for assaulting a stewardess on a flight and assigned to Anger Management, a self-help group lead by the completely insane Dr. Buddy Rydell (Nicholson at his finest, you can tell he's really enjoying himself). Buddy's healing methods appear a bit unorthodox, to say the least, but will they help David let go of his anger?
I can't say I'm much of a fan of Adam Sandler in movies like Happy Gilmore or Billy Madison. In movies of that type he doesn't have a lot of funny material to work with, and his overacting is more embarrassing than funny (I know I'm in the minority here). In "Anger" he's perfectly suited for his role. Every staggering, wooden sentence he utters perfectly describes what kind of character he is and it is impossible not to feel for him at times. We've all been frustrated in more than one situation in which we can't say what we really feel, and Sandler perfectly translates this to the screen; intentionally or not, it works.
Of course it is the legendary Jack himself who dominates the screen, and who is the main reason to see this movie. While other screen giants of the seventies and eighties seem to slip into obscurity over time (Robert De Niro hasn't been in anything really good since Jackie Brown, for example, and when Christopher Walken and Pacino have been reduced to cameos in Gigli, something is seriously wrong), Nicholson continues to star in unforgettable movies even as he gets older. The highly enjoyable and meaningful About Schmidt comes to mind, and I'm extremely happy to see he's going to work with Martin Scorcese in the upcoming The Departed, which comes out this very year. Jack is simply doing what he does best in "Anger Management" and his intensity is what really carries the film. He gets some of the best lines of his career, specifically the "implosive-explosive" speech and the classic "I feel pretty" sequence. As far as I'm concerned, this is one of the highlights of Nicholson's, and *especially* Sandler's, career and although far from being as good as The Shining or Punch-Drunk Love, "Management" is great fun with enough intelligence and wit to satisfy most viewers, as well as a bit of the usual lowbrow Sandler comedy.
The corny ending at the stadium aside, the film is fun from start to finish, if you can stand watching David Buznik go through all kinds of social torture at the hands of Dr. Rydell. A great supporting cast (John Turturro, Luis Guzmán, Kurt Fuller) and a myriad of cameos, including John McEnroe, Heather Graham, Woody Harrelson, Rudy Guiliani and Harry Dean Stanton are just icing on the cake. I don't understand why so many people disliked this movie - how can you not laugh at a Woody Harrelson, in drag, referring to Nicholson as "Mr. Eyebrows"?