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Here’s a movie for those of us (that is to say, everyone)
who’s ever experienced road rage, boss rage, or even ignored-by-a-flight-attendant rage.
All the rages are covered here in a thought- and laugh-provoking
fashion.
Jack Nicholson plays Buddy, a psychologist who specializes in
anger management. Adam Sandler is Dave, a quiet, way-too-mild-mannered corporate type
who designs clothing for overweight cats. Dave has a sweet and patient girlfriend
(Marisa Tomei) whom he’s afraid to kiss in public, due to a childhood
humiliation.
Dave meets Buddy on a flight to a business meeting—and that’s
where things begin to go wrong. A bizarre series of misunderstandings lead to Dave’s
arrest. He’s court-assigned to anger management therapy, conducted by, of all people,
Buddy.
Buddy, all eyebrows and grinning teeth, moves in with Dave and even
shadows him at his workplace. Buddy quickly makes Dave’s life strange and uncomfortable.
But Dave has little choice but to comply with Buddy’s weird methods.
I
thoroughly enjoyed the first hour, laughing loudly at several scenes (one involving a
pudgy feline named Meatball). But the second half, although funny, didn’t fulfill the
promise of the first. Near the movie’s end, all is laid bare for Dave. These
revelations seem a bit rushed and ill-considered, making an earlier pivotal scene highly
improbable.
Even with this slightly flawed ending I’d still recommend this
film—especially to those who dislike Sandler. His warm and understated performance, a
counterpoint to a manic Nicholson, makes this film a treat.
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