 Movie
Reviews
with Evelyn Gough
Anger Management (M)
Directed by Peter Segal
 Jack Nicholson and Adam Sandler in Anger Management.
Even if you're not a fan of Jack Nicholson you have to admit he does "crazy" well. If you are a fan, then you're in for a treat because boy, does he go to town in Anger Management, the smash hit comedy which also stars Adam Sandler (but don't let that put you off).
Now I have to admit I went into this film with low expectations. I love Jack Nicholson, but personally could pass on Sandler. Okay, so I haven't yet seen the critically acclaimed Punch Drunk Love and I did enjoy The Wedding Singer, but really… The Waterboy and Little Nicky? Nuff said. (I won't even mention the one where he plays a single dad… erk!)
So I was very pleasantly surprised and thoroughly entertained. Anger Management is really funny. Sandler plays against type as Dave Buznik, a mild-mannered doormat of a man who designs outfits for overweight cats (and believe me, that bit's funny!), and is too shy to kiss his girlfriend (Marisa Tomei) in public. He's the last person in the world who you would expect to find in an anger management class, but that's where poor Dave finds himself after an incident involving a flight attendant and a pair of headphones. Sure he has a problem with low self-esteem, but after just one session with unusual therapist Dr Buddy Rydell (Jack Nicholson) and his group of "wackos" he's ready to be committed. And that's when the nutty professor moves in with him!
Get ready to laugh. There are jokes aplenty involving fat felines, belligerent Buddhist monks, lesbian porn stars and of course Jack Nicholson doing what he does best. That's where Anger Management really works – the pairing up of Nicholson and Sandler. The nutty "psycho" character meets the totally straight "calm" guy. It's the chemistry between the two stars that makes this comedy click.
They are given solid support from a cast of great character actors that includes John Turturro, Luis Guzman and Hollywood's busiest actor John C. Reilly. And there are cameos galore to watch out for.
Jack Nicholson won't be accepting any Oscars for this role, but for consistent laughs Anger Management is a winner.
And the moral of the story? Nice guys lose. Aggressive bastards win every time.
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