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Directed By
Paul Thomas Anderson
Written By:
Paul Thomas Anderson
Cast:
Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Luis Guzmán, Jason Andrews, Don McManus, Jonathan Loughran, David Schrempf, Seann Conway, Rico Bueno, Hazel Mailloux, Karen Kilgariff
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Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
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Movie Review by Brian
February 23rd, 2006
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(mild-spoilers)
Punch Drunk Love is a rare film. Romantic, without being cutesy. Dramatic, without being melo-dramatic and over the top. And an Adam Sandler movie that is actually funny.
I've been a fan of director P.T. Anderson since "Boogie Nights," and make a point of seeing his films as soon as I can. I was a little wary of this one when I heard about it ("He's doing a movie with WHO?") but one of the great things about P.T. Anderson is that, like Tarantino, he's able to write great scripts with specific actors in mind. Punch Drunk Love is proof of that. Sandler plays his usual rage-filled-man-child, but this time its a sympathetic character, and not one that is by any means condescending (unlike say, The Waterboy).
The movie opens as Sandler's character, Barry Egan is in mid-phone call with Healthy Choice, regarding their promotion for frequent flier miles. These days it's rare for movie to throw you directly into a characters life, without a lot of exposition. As the movie unfolds, Egan's backstory is slowly revealed, and we understand his rage and are sympatheic toward it. Sandler's performance is incredible. (Theres a sentence I never thought I would say.) As he trashes a restaurant bathroom and then denies it to the manager, we see on his face the embarrasment this is causing him and his shame at having to leave with his date (Emily Watson,) who he has grown increasingly smitten with.
Emily Watson, too, is incredible. She likes Barry, but is somewhat bewildered by him (as is the audience). But she gives him a chance (perhaps, we think, because she has no other options?) and watching their love affair unfold is 1,000 times more romantic than anything starring Matthew McCoughanhey.
If you walk into this movie expecting "Mr. Deeds," you will be disappointed. (As was most of the audience in the theatre I saw it in. I heard more than one, "What the hell was that?" like comments). So if you want to see an Adam Sandler movie, go rent one. If you want to see a good movie, see Punch Drunk Love.
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