I like Adam Sandler. There, I said it.
A lot of his stuff is trash: I generally don’t like his albums, Little Nicky was a sin against mankind, et cetera. But Happy Gilmore is funny. The Wedding Singer is sweet. Mr. Deeds was both. He puts his stuff out there and whether or not you like it, there’s no doubt that what you’re getting is him — something he thinks is funny and worth a few thousand feet of film. He’s like a joker friend of yours: sometimes he’s funny, sometimes he’s hilarious, and sometimes he’s just stupid. It’s honest, it’s human, and I like that. Sue me.
Generally, Jackie feels the same way, and the reviews for the movie were good, so since the boy had managed to get himself grounded off of basically everything by Saturday afternoon, we decided to delay going to The Transporter (PG-13) and go see Punch Drunk Love (R).
I’m not going to simplify my take on this movie by saying “you’ll either love it or hate it”.
I’ll say this: if four people who generally agree with each other and get along walk in to see this movie, they will probably come out with four wildly different and contradictory opinions.
I enjoyed it. Jackie (who paid for our tickets) was ready to leave about 20 minutes in.
Comparing it to normal movies would be pointless. Comparing it to other stuff in the ‘indie’ arena, I think the main characters were more interesting and truly drawn than, for instance, My Big Fat Greek Wedding (where quite a few cariactures made an appearance), though both movies were very honest in different ways. The two main actors were good, the supporting cast had the familiar indie-film feel of all being related to the director in some way.
Punch Drunk Love isn’t comfortable, the main character is more pitiable than likeable, but I found myself rooting for him all the same: hoping he’d get his shit together long enough to let this new relationship fix some of the things that needed fixing in his life.
Maybe that’s why I liked it — I’ve never been as far down the dark little hole where he was at during most of the movie, but I’ve seen it — I’ve visited — I wanted him to get out of there because I knew how much it could suck.
Maybe that’s why Jackie didn’t like it — for her, I think there’s a point beyond which a person just can’t be fixed or recovered, or where it’s not worth the effort.
That’s two opinions — this movie will generate a lot more than two. You’ll have to see it for yourself.
Or not. That’s cool too.
