Review of Anger Management (2003) by Jesse H — 19 Jul 2012

As you have probably noticed from my review of Benchwarmers (assuming that anyone actually reads my reviews), I am not Adam Sandler's number one fan. Although occasionally he can make funny films, he generally doesn't.

Anger Management isn't an exception to this. The first problem this film has is the plot-line. Although I feel that plot doesn't matter quite as much in a comedy, Anger Management is somewhat story-based, so I feel that it is worth analytic discussion.

Adam Sandler plays Dave Buznick, an even-tempered, yet somewhat passive, businessman who is forced to undergo anger management therapy at the hands of a psychopathic therapist, Dr. Buddy Rydell, played by Jack Nicholson.

The plot of the film is somewhat confused, as if the writer was not quite sure if he wanted it to be a romantic comedy, or just straight-out satire. Also, the therapists therapeutic techniques are complete bull****.

However, in my opinion when it comes to comedy, pretty much everything can be forgiven if it is funny. Unfortunately for Adam Sandler, it isn't. Although Anger Management definitely has moments when can be funny, in general Anger Management has the extraordinary talent of taking the absolute best opportunities to be funny (i.

E Adam Sandler attacking a Buddhist monk) and wasting them by turning it into an opportunity to do bodily function jokes. In fact, it is those opportunities for humor that put Anger Management in its' saddest position.

There are often scenes in the film that should be funny, and would be if it was directed by a person who was funny. To be fair though, I definitely prefer this to Benchwarmers. Although Benchwarmers had more moments of good guilty humor in it, at the very least Anger Management didn't have an overabundance of fart jokes.

There were a few, but luckily the entire film wasn't comprised of them like Benchwarmers was. Actually, I think this film would have been a lot funnier if the roles were reversed. I'd have liked to see Adam Sandler play a passive therapist who gets a patient that he simply can't handle.

For what it's worth, however, Anger Management isn't Adam Sandler's worst film by any means. It does have its' moments, and Jack Nicholson can occasionally be some fun as Dr. Buddy Rydell.

I also would like to commend Happy Madison for not sticking to the cliches of Adam Sandler as thoroughly as it has in other films, such as The Benchwarmers or Click. Overall, Anger Management is a disappointingly unfunny movie that isn't out there enough to be a guilty pleasure, but not intelligent enough to be a classic.

If you generally like Adam Sandler's movies, then you may enjoy Anger Management. If you are like me, however, and never really could get into his films, I would suggest watching a true classic instead, such as Monty Python.

2/5 stars.