Dave Buznik (Adam Sandler) is a one hell of a Sand Bag. People punch him, take pot shots at him, literally walk all over him, but he just takes it all. So when he gets entangled in a humiliating misunderstanding with a cabin crew aboard an airplane, judge Daniels (Lynee Thigpen), sentences him to attend Anger Management sessions run by Dr.Buddy Rydell (Jack Nicholson), which is filled with eccentric, volatile and sometime ’’yuk’’ men and women.
The worst part is Buddy diagnoses Dave as an ’’Implosive’’ type of anger and after some really irritating (both to Dave and us) happenings, he gives Dave the 3 day clearance. But then something else happens and Dave has two options: Take the Full AM Course OR Go to Jail. Yes, ofcourse it is Judge Daniels.
Then starts some major nerve wrecking scenes, which acts as a AM training to the viewers. Obviously, I thought of going straight up to Dave and slap him and say ’’Are you a door mat?’’ But then I remembered ’’Goosfraba’’. This is absolutely brilliant. I really loved it.
Coming back to the story, Buddy takes along Dave through a series of test. He puts him in some bizarre and dangerous situations and rather than help him come out of it, he just pushes him to so hard that he comes out of each situation himself. He discovers many things that is important in life : Like giving your piece of mind when it has to be given and standing up for oneself.... Anyway, ultimately Buddy leaves a self-confident, happy, successful Dave only for us to find that the whole of the Base ball stadium (including the players!!) says ’’Goosfaraba’’.
There are some hilarious scenes but I really don’t want to let the cat out...
The Analysis....
Story (4/5)
Wonderful story. Very unique. Though some scenes are not that much believable, the turn of events make you think its ok. The reason is the movie goes based on a practical happening. So you expect things be little practical. But for that, the story was good.
Plot (4/5)
What a suspense it was... I remember seeing Jack Nicholson in the book in the first few scenes and when I saw him with Adam in the flight, I was kind of wondering how come? Anyway, the director keeps us guessing all the while as to why things are happening!!! The plot sort of unraveled itself slowly only to give the biggest shock bang at the end...
Comedy (4/5)
Initially I thought it was irritating... all that goosfraba stuff... but later in the movie, I was laughing all the way upto the chequered flag... Wonderful piece of comedy we have here.
Cast (4/5)
Oh what a selection of cast. Jesus Christ, Jack Nicholson, sizzles, smiles, and just steals your heart away. Ofcourse Adam Sandler is the same stereo-typical style he has been doing like in Waterboy etc. So no big difference in his acting. He has a beautiful and understanding girlfriend Linda (Marisa Tomei), who is the pivotal role for this movie (’’sort-of’’). And all those patients of Buddy, John Turturro, Luis Guzman etc are really amazing. Woody Harrelson and Heather Graham make you beg for mercy from laughter when they cross the silver screen... Also makes you laugh is Dave’s childhood nightmare bully and now a monk, Arnie Shankman (John C. Reilly).
You also have cameo appearance by New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Indiana University’s legendary coach Bobby Knight!!!!
Movie Pace (3/5)
Basically this is a slow movie and so you should not expect a generous speed in the story. Having said that, I felt but for few or more instances, the movie ’’sort-of’’ went ahead in a ’’more-than-normal’’ speed. Simply put, the pace is ’’well-paced’’....
Special Effects (3/5)
We are told by the producers & director that they indeed used special effects for this movie!!! First the scene when Buddy & Dave driving to work, and in the Queensboro Bridge (bridge connection Queens and Manhattan), Buddy wants to give Dave a ’’AM’’ lesson and stops the car in the middle with all other cars behind him honking and yelling. And buddy plays the song ’’I Feel Pretty’’, that was really hilarious... Now, this scene was not at all real!!! It is something like this: Almost empty bridge at 4am, Jack & Adam in a soundstage with a blue backdrop!! And then all those cars behind come from Computer!!
Also the climax in the Yankee-Red sox game, at the Yankee Stadium, you see a packed 50000+ crowd. Well of that only around 3500 are real and 1200 are cardboard cut outs. Rest are all wire frames or computer images!!!
Direction (4/5)
An Innovative, intuitive, infectious story told in a ’’on-your-face, so find out what you are style’’. The dialogs are solid and worth in gold, particularly the ones that are spoken by Jack’s character. In simple words ’’exemplary direction’’.
Final Verdict (4/5)
Good Story, Fine Direction, Classy piece of acting, hilarious scenes for treat. So what more you expect, a can of coke and popcorn? Come on, you can buy that. Now go get that DVD from your CD Shop and start watching it. Just make sure ’’the-wife’’ is not around, otherwise you may find yourself in Buddy’s sessions saying ’’Goosfraba’’.
And If you find similarity with you and any of Buddy’s patients (which Im sure you will), then trust me and take this movie seriously...